Find a summary below of key agenda items and actions taken by the Board of Delegates on November 15, 2017. The full agenda packet is here. 
RECOGNITION &  PRESENTATIONS


R ecognition of Outgoing Delegates
Board Chairman Currin recognized outgoing delegates Eddie Davis from the City of Durham, Hank Dickson from the Town of Holly Springs, and William Massengill from the Town of Benson, for their loyalty and service on the Triangle J COG Board and to th eir individual municipalities. All three individuals have been dedicated to the success of the region and will be truly missed on the board. 

Additionally, Bonner Gaylord from the City of Raleigh, Ed Harrison from the Town of Chapel Hill, Glenn York from the Town of Zebulon and Keith Branch from Johnston County will be leaving the TJCOG Board. Join us in recognizing all their efforts and service to the organization. Thank you!


Triangle Area Water Supply Monitoring Project Receives NADO Innovation Award
Formed in 1988, the Triangle Area Water Supply Monitoring (TAWSMP) project is a collaborative initiative that aims to provide local governments with water-quality and streamflow data that can be used to protect and monitor the area's surface-water supply. Through a partnership of governments, TJCOG and the U.S Geological Survey, the project focuses on supplementing existing data on major ions, nutrients and trace elements to determine long-term trends, examine differences in water quality among regional water sources, providing data for predictive modeling, and establishing a regional database. As one of the longest-standing regional datasets, the project is truly innovative and deserving of the 2017 National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Innovation Award. 

Interested in learning more about TAWSMP? Contact Jen Schmitz at [email protected] or head over to the project website. 


Mary Sell Receives ACT 2017 40 Under 40 Award
Mary Sell, a Triangle J Council of Governments planner, has been awarded the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) 2017 40 Under 40 Award. The awards recognize Transportation Demand Management leaders who are committed to developing programs that shift commuter behavior and create long-lasting change within their communities and organizations. In her role at TJCOG, Mary's passion for alternative transportation and improved quality of life for commuters is evident through her role administering the Triangle Best Workplaces for Commuters and Triangle Clean Cities programs. Both initiatives provide education and resources for key decision-makers in the region, and encourage alternative transit for local employees and fleets. With Mary's support, the Best Workplaces program now reaches 100,000+ employees in the region and aims to become a statewide resource in the coming calendar year. 

Congratulations to Mary for her dedication to quality of life and commute alternatives in our region! Full press release
 

Smart Growth & Water Resources Collaboratives Update
Hopefully, all Board Delegates are aware of the great Smart Growth & Water Resources Collaboratives  (previously the Smart Growth & Water Resources Committees). Both groups aim to provide elected officials and local government stakeholders an opportunity to discuss regional challenges and provide education on smart strategies for resource conservation, water allocation and development. Prior meetings have discussed resiliency, growth projections, and facilitation of aging communities. 

We invite all TJCOG Delegates to attend the meetings, or appoint a municipal representative to attend. The more voices in the room, the more that discussion can incorporate a variety of perspectives. 

Please email Aspen or Jen to add an individual to the Collaboratives rosters: Aspen Romeyn, [email protected]; Jen Schmitz, [email protected]

The upcoming joint Smart Growth-Water Resources Collaborative meeting will be held on December 7th from 2:00-4:00 pm on "Regional Food Systems for Sustainable Communities & Watershed Health", with presentations from the Conservation Trust of North Carolina and Tetra Tech. Agenda


Jordan Lake One Water Association (JLOWA) Presentation
Water Resources Planner Jen Schmitz presented to the Board on the newly formed Jordan Lake One Water Association, a collaborative entity that aims to implement a "One Water" approach to the Jordan Lake Watershed. The Association is administered by TJCOG and supported by diverse stakeholders from Greensboro to Raleigh, which seeks to facilitate cooperation and holistic water resource management in the Jordan Lake watershed. Association meetings will advance conversation on integrated water management, the state of the legislative environment, and the future of our watersheds to foster more integrated and innovative approaches to tackling issues associated with regional growth. Presentation here. 

Please encourage your respective community's participation - downstream and upstream communities are welcome! Email Jen Schmitz at [email protected] to be included in future meetings. 
NEW BUSINESS

Smart Cities 101 Series for Elected Officials
TJCOG and the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster (RTCC) have identified a potential need to develop a Smart Cities 101 series for elected officials and other member government stakeholders. As technology and data rapidly change, as well as citizen expectations around data availability, there is a growing need for elected officials to understand how Smart Cities solutions can assist with decision-making and are becoming an expected norm from residents. Emmitt Owens, from RTCC, provided an overview of Smart Cities initiatives in the region and nationally, and asked for feedback from the Board on the potential series. 


Request for Expressions of Interest to Serve on Research Triangle Area Foreign Trade Zone Rates, Tariffs and Legal Review Board
The TJCOG Board of Delegates appoints and is advised by,a nine-member Rates, Tariff and Legal Review Board (FTZ Board) that provides oversight and, along with TJCOG's FTZ administrator Renee Boyette, fulfills the grantee's responsibilities under the guidelines and regulations of the US FTZ Board. TJCOG Board Member and Benson Mayor William Massengill will leave elected office in December and therefore will no longer be eligible to serve as an FTZ Board Member. A nominating committee has been appointed to determine a TJCOG Delegate replacement for the Mayor Massengill on the FTZ Board. 

Action: Board members interested in serving on the FTZ Board should contact Rebecca Wyhof at [email protected] or Renee Boyette at [email protected] by November 30th. 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Follow the above link to see a comprehensive report from Lee Worsley of TJCOG program and project updates for November 2017. Additionally, please note the December 2017 Executive Committee meeting is cancelled. 
Hillsborough Water Capacity Analysis Tool
Delegate Kathleen Ferguson generously passed along this tool, which is the modeling spreadsheet the Town of Hillsborough uses when assessing developments.  The town plans very conservatively, looking at what impacts are assuming stage 5 drought conditions. Communities interested in learning more about how the tool has been used can contact Hillsborough Planning Director Margaret Hauth at [email protected]. 
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