Mayor Pro-Tem Eddy Gonzalez Elected LRGVDC President

RIO-Net the ADRC of theLower Rio Grande Valley

14th AnnualCentenarian Recognition

Environmental Enforcement Trainings

Regional Police Academyand Training Center

LRGVDC Sponsors AFFHLocal Training

Ombudsman Sponsor 5th Annual Long Term Care Workshop

New Valley Metro Fleet MakesFirst Appearance at Ribbon Cutting

Criminal Justice Advisory Committee Chair Honored for Years of Service

REBUILD, RESTORE, & REGIONALIZEThe Three R’s of Post-Disasterand Economic Recovery” Conference

REGIONAL PURSUITS is the newsletter published by the LRGVDC.

This publication is financed in part through funding assistance from State

and Federal grants.REGIONAL PURSUITS is available without cost

and inquiries should be directed to:

Ken Jones, Executive DirectorLower Rio Grande Valley Development Council

311 N. 15th Street, McAllen, TX 78501-4705E-Mail: info@lrgvdc.orgwebsite: www.lrgvdc.org

(956) 682-3481, Fax (956) 631-4670;

JUNE 2011 • VOLUME LXIX

At a recent Membership meeting of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC), Mayor Pro-tem Eddy Gonzalez was unanimously elected President of the Board. “It is an honor to have been elected as the new LRGVDC President, and I look forward to continuing the positive momentum and progress created by Past Presidents of this organization. The regional approach is the most effective way to address the comprehensive needs of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and the LRGVDC will continue to be a leader in this regard,” stated Mayor Pro-tem Gonzalez.

The remaining LRGVDC Board officers elected are: 1st Vice President, the Honorable Norma G. Garcia; 2nd Vice President, La Feria Mayor Steve Brewer; Secretary, Brownsville Mayor Tony Martinez; Treasurer, Hidalgo Mayor

Pro-tem Alvin Samano; and Immediate Past President, Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell. Other members elected to the LRGVDC Board of Directors include: Commissioner Sophia Benavidez, Cameron County; Commissioner Hector “Tito” Palacios, Hidalgo County; Judge John F. Gonzales, Jr., Willacy County; Commissioner Roel Landa, City of Alamo; Mayor David S. Simmons, City of Donna; Council Member Gus Garcia, City of Edinburg; Mayor Henry Hinojosa, City of Mercedes; Council Member Norie Gonzalez Garza, City of Mission; Mayor Leo “Polo” Palacios, Jr., City of Pharr; Mayor Orlando Correa, City of Raymondville; Commissioner Celeste Sanchez, City of San Benito; Mayor Pro-Tem, Armando Garza, City of San Juan; Commissioner Robert J. Garza, City of Weslaco; Dr. Cesar Maldonado, TSTC; Mr. Roberto Loredo, Donna I.S.D.; Mr. Gale Armstrong, El Jardin Water Supply Corporation; Mr. J. Shane Cameron, Port Mansfield PUB & Willacy County Navigation District; Mr. Don Medina, Member-at-Large; and Mr. Arturo Ramirez, Grassroots Organizations.

The LRGVDC Board meetings are normally held the 4th Thursday of each month. For more information on meeting times and locations please visit our website at www.lrgvdc.org.

Mayor Pro-Tem Eddy Gonzalez Elected LRGVDC President

Mayor Pro-Tem Eddy Gonzalez

Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC), through a Solid Waste Grant Project funded by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality held a total of four (4) Environmental Enforcement Training sessions. Attendance mainly included Code Enforcement Officers, Police Officers and City Staff. A total of 113 people attended the training sessions. Environmental Enforcement training is crucial to the LRGV Region, for public health reasons and to avoid water pollution, illegal dumping and illegal outdoor burning. LRGVDC Police Academy is making plans to incorporate this Environmental Enforcement Training into its Academy.

The Lower Rio Grande Development Council (LRGVDC) is the Regional Council of Governments serving Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties. Information on the LRGVDC may be found at www.lrgvdc.org or by calling (956) 682-3481.

LRGVDC is updating our “One Stop Shop” information and resource service directory for our new program, RIO-Net the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. It is a useful online guide to a wide variety of community services that are available for anyone to use. Benefits are not only for the aging and the disabled, but also their caregivers, health team members or providers, community service workers or anyone else with a need to access services available locally, statewide and/or nationally.

You can find this Online Service Directory available at www.lrgv.tx.networkofcare.org and update or add any

other services you find useful that are not currently listed. (This update can be accomplished by clicking on the ADD or CORRECT link at the top left corner of the screen and enter your favorite resource.)

In addition to enhancing and promoting our resource website, the RIO-Net ADRC has been actively making connections with different local service agencies. The LRGVDC is currently collaborating with the wide array of services that are offered in our area to achieve “best practices” for communication throughout the different entities. Some of these entities include Health Care Systems such as hospitals, home-health agencies, private medical practices and more; as well as, community based and private organizations that provide services to the elderly and disabled. Our focus is committed to the synchronization of these services for the benefit of our community.

The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council Area Agency on Aging in partnership with the Social Security Administration had its 14th Annual Centenarian Recognition Celebration on Thursday, May 12, 2011. The celebration took place at the Villa de Cortez “The Wild Thing” party room in Weslaco. A total of 18 Centenarians ranging from 100 to 106 years of age attended this year’s event. Special certificate presentations were made by Congressman Ruben Hinojosa and Senator Eddie Lucio’s Representative. International award-winning entertainer Efrain Guerrero known by many as “Happy” the Comedian enlightened the event with his comedy show.

RIO-Net the ADRC of theLower Rio Grande Valley

Environmental Enforcement Trainings

14th AnnualCentenarian Recognition

Mr. John Ockels, Texas Illegal Dumping Resource Center, instructs Local Law Enforcement participating in Environmental Enforcement Training at the Weslaco Transit Center

The Regional Police Academy and Training Center has offered the following courses in May and June:

Training Courses Reported: •CulturalDiversity •SpecialInvestigativeTopics •Report Writing •ATF Firearms Critical Tasks Workshop •State and Federal Law Update •Sexual Assault •Radar •Standard Field Sobriety Training •Human Trafficking Course •Basic Instructor’s Course •Mental Health Officer •EnvironmentalInvestigations

Upcoming Courses: •FBIHostageNegotiatorCourse •SPI Texas Highway Interdiction •Use of Force •State and Federal Law Update •BasicDetentionCourse •Firearms Instructor’s Course •NotaryPublic •Elder Abuse Awareness •ASP Expandable Baton •UpdateonDrugCartels •Precision Rifle S.W.A.T. Operators Course

Additionally, the Academy joined the Hidalgo County Family Violence Task force. The FT meets the third Wednesday of every month and is charged withaddressing family violence particularly in HidalgoCounty and surrounding area.

Due to economic necessity, the tuition for the BasicPeace Office Course will increase from $1250 to $2200 effectiveSeptember1,2011. OurBasicPeaceOfficerAcademy will continue to operate out of Harlingen, Mission and Hidalgo:

Academy Site GraduationDate 147thAcademy HarlingenDay 4/9/2011 149thAcademy HidalgoDay 5/13/2011 150thAcademy MissionDay 6/9/2011

Wehave started orwill start the following academyclasses:

Academy Site StartDate 152ndAcademy HarlingenDay 4/25/2011 153rdAcademy MissionDay 6/27/2011 154thAcademy HidalgoDay 7/25/2011 155thAcademy MissionNight 10/8/2011

For information about the academy, please visit us on the web at www.lrgvdc.org

or call our offices at (956) 364-4507

LRGVDCSponsorsAFFHLocalTraining

The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council sponsored a Mandatory AFFH Training. Friday, June 10, 2011. A Mandatory Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Training was held at Weslaco City Hall. A total of eighty-three (83) people attended the training.

Some of the topics covered were the Fair Housing Act, FHA issues, complaints and legal actions, Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing, and FHAST Form.

More information on this training may be found the LRGVDC web site at www.lrgvdc.org

Regional Police Academyand Training Center

Ombudsman Sponsor 5th

Annual Long Term Care Workshop

The Ombudsman Program held their 5th Annual Long Term Care Workshop May 25-26 at South Texas College in Weslaco.

Social Workers from the 31 nursing homes in the tri-county area were invited. The turnout was very good with some attendees coming from as far away as Corpus Christi.

For the first time, MMLearn, of San Antonio, provided a live webcast from San Antonio for RN’s, Social Workers and Administrators. This training was provided free of charge to all attendees.

Workshops included presentations on Community Resources for Residents Leaving the Nursing Home, the Relocation Project, The Do’s and Don’ts of Residents Trust Funds, Theft in the Nursing Home, Caregiver SOS Project for Caregivers, and Guardianship. The second day offered personal development training; Affirmations and Ethics.

Those attending the full two days qualified to receive 12 CEU’s.

Social Workers hear presentation at 5th Annual Long Term Care Workshop

Potential grant recipients and sub-recipients of Disaster Recovery Funds attend Mandatory AFFH Training

CONTACTS FOR LRGVDC ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS

ExECuTIVE COMMITTEEMayor Pro-Tem Eddy Gonzalez PresidentCity of Edcouch

Honorable Norma G. Garcia 1st Vice-PresidentMember-At-Large

Mayor Steve Brewer 2nd Vice-PresidentCity of La Feria

Mayor Tony Martinez SecretaryCity of Brownsville

Mayor Pro-Tem Alvin Samano TreasurerMember-at-Large

Mayor Chris Boswell Immediate Past PresidentCity of Harlingen

REMAINING BOARD MEMBERSCommissioner Sofia Benavides Cameron CountyCommissioner Hector “Tito” Palacios Hidalgo CountyJudge John F. Gonzales, Jr. Willacy CountyCommissioner Roel Landa City of AlamoMayor David Simmons City of DonnaCouncil Member Gus Garcia City of EdinburgCommissioner Jim Darling City of McAllenMayor Henry Hinojosa City of MercedesCouncil Member Norie Gonzalez Garza City of MissionMayor Leo “Polo” Palacios, Jr. City of PharrMayor Orlando Correa City of RaymondvilleCommissioner Celeste Sanchez City of San BenitoMayor Pro-Tem Armando Garza City of San JuanCommissioner Robert J. Garza City of WeslacoDr. Cesar Maldonado TSTCMr. Roberto Loredo Donna I.S.D.Mr. Gale Armstrong El Jardin Water Supply CorporationMr. J. Shane Cameron Port Mansfield PUB & Willacy County Navigation DistrictMr. Don Medina Member-at-LargeMr. Arturo Ramirez Grassroots Organizations

Kenneth N. Jones, Jr. Executive DirectorAnn Lyles Director, FinanceAnna Hernandez Director, Human ResourcesVictor Morales Director, ProcurementJoe Gonzalez Director, Area Agency on AgingTerrie Salinas Director, Economic Development

Tom Logan Director, Valley MetroManuel Cruz Director, Homeland SecurityMarcie Oviedo Director, Regional Planning & ServicesJuan Gomez Director, 9-1-1 ServicesPaul Williams Director, Regional Police Academy & Training CenterAndrew Canon Director, Hidalgo County MPO

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 31McALLEN, TX

78501

Lower Rio Grande ValleyDevelopment Council311 N. 15th Street • McAllen, TX 78501-4705

Lower Rio Grande Valley Development CouncilBOARD OF DIRECTORS 2011-2012

“Regionalization” was the word of the day as elected officials and citizens from throughout the area joined Valley Metro on June 15 in a ribbon cutting of its new transit fleet at Weslaco’s Visitors Center. LRGVDC Board President Eddy Gonzalez, who served as master of ceremonies for the event, introduced a line of elected officials including Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia, Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos, Hidalgo County Commissioner for Precinct 1 Joel Quintanilla, Weslaco Mayor Miguel D. Wise, and representatives from the offices of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Congressman Rubén

Hinojosa and Texas State Representative Armando Martinez. Each spoke about the importance of public transportation and the need to work as a region and emphasized Valley Metro’s role as the Valley’s community transportation provider dedicated to improving access and mobility for people from all walks of life.

Valley Metro received over $4.3 million from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to support the continued expansion of regional transportation and improvement of current services. The exciting new upgrades to

the system include new buses equipped with mobile data computers, surveillance cameras, electronic destination signs and bike racks; the addition of parking bays at Valley Metro’s bus yard and administrative facility; an automated dispatching & scheduling software system; an automated bus washer at the Valley Metro bus yard; a transit warehouse in Harlingen; and sixty passenger shelters along bus routes.

In addition to capital improvements acquired through ARRA, Valley Metro is also improving its service by re-designing its route schedules, introducing a system map, and promoting a 20-ride pass system for deep discounts to passengers. Additional operational improvements are scheduled throughout 2011.

New Valley Metro Fleet MakesFirst Appearance at Ribbon Cutting

LRGVDC Valley Metro’s new fleet at the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce during the

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

Regional leaders cut the ribbon to unveil the LRGVDC-Valley Metro’s new fleet

Guest speakers (left to right) Judge Carlos Cascos, Cameron County; Judge Ramon Garcia, Hidalgo County; Mayor Miguel D. Wise, City of Weslaco; LRGVDC President, City of Edcouch Mayor Pro-tem Eddy Gonzalez; Ms. Cynthia Rios, State Representative Armando Martinez’ District Administrator; and Commissioner Joel

Quintanilla, Hidalgo County Pct. 1

On March 22, 2011, Nancy Pearl Treviño was honored for her five years of service as Chairperson of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (CJAC) on behalf of the LRGVDC Board of Directors, Mr. Kenneth N. Jones, Jr., Executive Director, and the LRGVDC staff.

Ms. Treviño has served on the CJAC since 2001 and was Chairperson from 2005

to 2010. Manuel Cruz, Program Director of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness at the LRGVDC, presented Ms. Treviño with an award and thanked her for her service.

“By demonstrating the values that this committee stands for in her everyday work as Chair, Ms. Trevino has proven to be a true leader of this committee,” said Cruz. Ms. Treviño’s contributions toward achieving CJAC goals and motivating the Committee in its efforts to serve the communities of the Lower Rio Grande Valley were also mentioned.

Criminal Justice Advisory Committee Chair Honored for Years of Service

Left to Right: Manuel Cruz, Director of Homeland Security; Marelena Gonzales, Criminal Justice Staff;

Nancy Treviño, Criminal Justice Chair; Claudia Wood, Program Administrator;

Alicia Bañuelos, Criminal Justice Planner

REBUILD, RESTORE, & REGIONALIZEThe Three R’s of Post-Disaster

and Economic Recovery” Conference

The Economic Development Department of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC) partnered with the Small Cities Coalition (SCC), Workforce Solutions-Cameron, and both the University of Texas-Pan American and the University of Texas at Brownsville to conduct the 2nd Annual Economic Development and Emergency Management Conference funded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA). The unity of working with these great entities illustrated our commitment to working together as a region.

This year’s conference was entitled “REBUILD, RESTORE, & REGIONALIZE, The Three R’s of Post-Disaster and Economic Recovery,” and was held June 1-3, 2011, at the Isla Grand Beach Resort in South Padre Island. This conference supported leaders, businesses, and communities in their efforts to successfully respond to the challenges of a down economy and the threats of natural and man-made disasters.

This year’s conference was well publicized by working with both television Channels, including a TV spot on Channel 4 and having Mrs. Letty Garza, Channel 5, preside as Master of Ceremonies on the second day.

In order to regionalize this process it was necessary to address the three most important target groups: Businesses & Economic Development, Civic Leadership & Management, and Emergency

Preparedness. This conference offered participants an opportunity to be briefed by representatives from federal agencies, such as USDA, SBA, GSA, and HUD.

Our conference partner, Workforce Solutions Cameron was on hand

to provide Board and Staff support throughout the three-day event.

This conference attracted elected officials, city managers, emergency managers, business owners, law enforcement, community volunteers, trade & industry personnel, and decision makers from across the Valley. This conference featured booth vendors who had the opportunity to develop new business relationships and market their business to the South Texas Region.

We hope this conference assisted in helping participants understand the importance of uniting emergency preparedness and economic development for the purpose of creating “disaster resilient communities.” With education and training, businesses, cities, and local organizations can be better prepared and can recover or rebuild quicker should these disasters happen. See you next year for another great conference!

Planning Committee Members: L to R: Gaddi Rodriguez, UTPA; Jill Francisco, UTB/TSC; Hilario Diaz, Workforce Solutions Cameron; Terrie G. Salinas, LRGVDC; Rogelio Leal, LRGVDC; Sally Perez, Workforce Solutions Cameron,

Cris Trejo, UTPA; Nelda Najera & Gloria Casas, Workforce Solutions Cameron

L to R: Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s Office – Julian Alvarez, South Texas Regional Director; Senator John Cornyn’s Office – Ana Garcia, Regional Director;

Congressman Blake Farenthold’s Office – Adela Garza, Field Representative; Congressman Henry Cuellar’s

Office – Philip Farias, Outreach Coordinator

L to R: Terrie G. Salinas, LRGVDC; Richard Lopez, HUD; Victor Vasquez, USDA; Cris Trejo, UTPA; Letty Garza, KRGV; Sylvia Zampon, SBA

County Judges working together:Judge Ramon Garcia, Hidalgo County (left)

& Judge Carlos H. Cascos, Cameron County (right)

L to R: Rogelio Leal, LRGVDC; Hilario Diaz, Workforce Solutions Cameron; and Gaddi Rodriguez, UTPA

manning the registration table.