TOLL ROAD RESOLUTIONS GARNER CITY, STATE SUPPORT
by Sarah Morgan

Communities throughout the Houston area are pressing the Texas legislature to adopt new rules that would require more accountability for toll road authorities, and now mayor Bill White has joined the fight.

The Citizens' Transportation Coalition, along with almost 30 community groups, have voiced concern about the lack of requirements surrounding toll road projects, specifically for environmental reviews and public meetings.

Under current state law, toll road authorities are not required to hold public meetings in affected neighborhoods, or to conduct full environmental reviews for new toll road projects.

A new bill before the legislature, House Bill 2496, introduced by Martha Wong, R-Houston, would require public notice if there is a public meeting planned for a new toll road project. At a City Council meeting April 19, White agreed to support the bill.

"Last Tuesday we went to City Council to ask for the mayor's support, and we got it," said Robin Holzer, co-chair of the CTC.

Several members of Houston City Council also agreed to support more toll road accountability, including Mark Goldberg and Adrian Garcia.

Peter Tyler, another member of the Coalition, said, " We've been successful in getting the city of Houston to pay attention. They're giving us serious consideration in helping us move toward the passage of a law."

Though HB 2496 does implement some requirements for toll road proposals, members from the CTC are still hoping for more.

"It's a step in the right direction," said Holzer. "It doesn't say anything about environmental reviews, and the bill only applies if the project is to convert an existing road into a tollway. It doesn't count for new projects," she said. Holzer also said the bill does not actually require a meeting, only public notice if a meeting is to be held.

"We're hoping for a bill that would require notice, public meetings, and environmental reviews for all toll-funded projects, period," said Holzer.

The bill is currently before the Texas House Transportation Committee, where, last week, the CTC testified on changing state toll road laws. Wong and Goldberg were also in attendance, speaking in favor of the bill.

"The next step is, we've got to get the bill out of committee," said Holzer, who is currently meeting with legislators, along with other members of the CTC, in an effort to solicit their support as well for the bill. The CTC is also encouraging residents to contact their legislators, including Rep. Mike Krusee, R-Round Rock, chair of the House Transportation Committee.

"The toll roads themselves are not the problem," Holzer said. "It's the way (toll road authorities) are going about them."

The Harris County Toll Road Authority is currently considering fourteen toll road proposals for the region. For more information concerning the CTC or the toll road accountability resolution, visit
http://www.citizenstransportationcoalition.org/CTCRESOLUTION.pdf.

WILLOW WATERHOLE GREENSPACE CONSERVANCY: FUN RUN AND WALK

The Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy is a nonprofit organization of community partners dedicated to the establishment of a major park in southwest Houston. The group is excited to announce that development of the park has gone so well that it is now able to host the first of what is expected to become an annual WWGC Fun Run and Walk, to be held at the park May 7. The WWGC hopes the community will take advantage of this opportunity to see and support one of Houston's newest green spaces. Participants can choose a 5K fun run or a 5K fun walk; kids can participate in a 1-mile fun run. T-shirts designed by local high school students will be available, and a band will be on hand for entertainment. Refreshments and a dedication ceremony at 10:30 am will close out the morning. Registration begins at 7 am. For more information, contact Ed O'Rourke at eorourke@pdq.net or visit http://www.wwgc.org.

NATURE DISCOVERY CENTER LECTURE: RED-COCKADED WOODPECKERS IN JONES FOREST

John Warner will speak about the presence of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in the Jones State Forest on May 4 at 7 pm. Warner has served for fifteen years as an urban district forester with the Texas Forest Service. The Jones State Forest, purchased in 1926 and named after the father of Texas forestry, W. Goodrich Jones, is used as a demonstration forest for both traditional and urban forestry. "For the Inquisitive Naturalist" is a free adult lecture series offered the first Wednesday of each month at the Nature Discovery Center, 7112 Newcastle, in Bellaire. For more information, contact (713) 667-6550 or http://www.naturediscoverycenter.org.

HOUSTON SIERRA CLUB: EAST TEXAS TREE IDENTIFICATION CLASS

Participants will learn how to identify native trees, shrubs, and vines in East Texas at the Houston Sierra Club's East Texas Tree Identification Class "Fun-raiser" on May 1 from 9:45 am to 4 pm. Tom Maddux and Brandt Mannchen will conduct the one-day workshop on the identification and ecology of native vegetation at Peach Creek Woods, southwest of Cleveland, Texas. Explore different eco-niches during a leisurely walk along well-trimmed forest trails, stopping often to discuss identification techniques. Plan to bring water, a sack lunch, and bug spray. Wear long pants and comfortable walking shoes. Bring a towel and bathing suit if you want to swim or wade in Peach Creek after class. This class is limited to fifteen people and participants should pre-register. For more information or to register, contact Tom Maddux at (281) 292-2939.

MOTHERS FOR CLEAN AIR SEEKS SCHOOL HEALTH COORDINATOR AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Mothers for Clean Air, a local nonprofit environmental organization, has received a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency to implement EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program in Spring Branch Independent School District schools. The School Health Coordinator will work with SBISD and MfCA to organize training of school IAQ coordinators and assist selected coordinators in implementing EPA’s program in their respective schools. The School Health Coordinator will report to the MfCA project manager and will collaborate with SBISD’s Associate Superintendent of Facilities, Transportation and Support.

Responsibilities include facilitating the implementation of EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program in 46 SBISD schools. The School Health Coordinator will work with SBISD’s Facilities Department to develop a strategy for implementation, partner with EPA Region VI, Fort Bend ISD and Region IV Education Service Center to develop training sessions, arrange a Tools for Schools presentation for SBISD principals, and more.

The applicant should have a bachelor’s degree, reliable transportation and at least two years of work experience. The applicant should be an excellent communicator and have strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

The applicant should be passionate and committed because compensation is limited. The School Health Coordinator is a part-time, one-year grant funded position and does not currently include benefits. Time required is estimated at 15-20 hours per week and pay is $1000 per month.

MfCA has also received a US Environmental Protection Agency grant to work with the residents of Southeast Houston and area stakeholders to reduce the community’s exposure to hazardous pollution. The Community Outreach Coordinator will inform the community of the project, recruit residents and stakeholders to be part of the process, assist with implementation of the project and coordinate training of residents to take air samples in the community. The Community Outreach Coordinator will report to the MfCA executive director and will fulfill the requirements of the community organizer position in the EPA Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving grant called Improving Environmental Quality through Collaboration.

Responsibilities include learning about the community through research and meeting with individuals in the community, building a network of community leaders and stakeholders, recruiting residents to participate in the project and to take community air samples, and more.

The applicant should have a master’s degree in a related field or a bachelor’s degree and at least two years of experience in community organizing, and reliable transportation. The applicant should be an excellent communicator in both English and Spanish and have strong organizational and interpersonal skills. The Community Outreach Coordinator is a three-year grant funded position that does not include benefits. This position can be either full-time or part-time and requires work on weekends and in the evenings.

To apply for either position, e-mail your resume and a cover letter stating why you think you would be good for this job to mfca@mothersforcleanair.org.

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