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MORPC Report December 21, 2020
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Good Monday morning, Commission Members:
As we reach the end of an intense and sometimes upside-down year for all of us, I hope this finds you well as we look forward to 2021.
Thanks to all who joined in the December Board Meeting. Your involvement last week and throughout our virtual meetings this year means so much to our team and our work for Central Ohio’s communities.
We were pleased to start the meeting by honoring some of our outgoing public service professionals at this month’s meeting, including: David Collinsworth (City of Westerville); Julie Colley (City of Westerville); Steve Stolte (Union County); Charles Hall (Union County); Pat Blayney (Delaware County); John Bayliss (Logan County); and Jim O’Brien (Perry County). Thanks to all of these folks for their service to their communities and the region and for their support and leadership for MORPC!
Below are action items and other updates:
KEY ACTION ITEMS FOR OUTREACH
Join this morning’s Three-part Web Series: Infrastructure + Technology - 10-11:30 a.m. Dec. 14. This final part of the series will include presentations on 5G and public safety, the usage of drones for bridge inspections, and the use of the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system. Join Microsoft Teams Meeting <https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MTFjNTc5MmYtMGJmZi00YTM2LTg5MDMtZTZhZjFkMmM1NTZj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22d225c0aa-f4a0-4925-bc81-eaff87943970%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22fef5ed38-4ea9-4dd1-883d-271a095cb986%22%7d>
Broadband Access Pilot Program - This impactful program to help up to 10,000 students stay connected with internet hotspots and computers is in high gear! It’s available to the entire region. Spread the word with materials at morpc.org/broadband <https://www.morpc.org/broadband>.
GENERAL RESOURCES & REMINDERS:
COVID-19 Resource Hub - With the recent intensification of the health crisis, we continue to update the resource hub for local governments at morpc.org/covid19 <https://www.morpc.org/covid19>.
Eliminate Racism Webpage - As a helpful resource to local governments, this page features MORPC’s statement on racism, links from communities that have issued statements and resolutions declaring racism as a public health crisis, and more. Find it at morpc.org/eliminateracism <https://www.morpc.org/eliminateracism>.
DECEMBER BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS:
• We’re thrilled that the Village of Hebron has joined MORPC as our 75th member! We look forward to working alongside the village and welcome Village Administrator John Trujillo to the commission board!
• A resolution was adopted to accept MORPC’s 2021 Budget and Appropriations. The 2021 budget invests in the programs and resources you and your community depend upon, while being cautious as we head into the recovery. As a reminder, MORPC deferred a planned dues increase to help our communities navigate the current fiscal uncertainty, so your community dues are holding steady for 2021. Let us know if you would like to know more.
COMMITTEE UPDATES:
Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization - This update highlighted the importance of rural transportation and its relationship to the economy. CORPO met last month and focused on the upcoming coordinated plan for seniors and individuals with disabilities, the Union County US-33 plan, COTA updates, and MORPC’s Regional Housing Strategy.
Regional Data Advisory Committee - The committee recently met to discuss the 2020 Census and its working groups reports. Work is still being performed to tabulate and check the data from the Census field work completed in October. There are currently concerns about anomalies in the data and a Supreme Court case regarding whether undocumented immigrants are included in the apportionment. There could be an impact on timing and delivery of data, including apportionment data for redistricting.
RDAC also has a short-term working group making updates to the Regional Data Agenda <https://www.morpc.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DATA-POLICY-AGENDA_FINAL_WEB.pdf>.
Regional Policy Roundtable - This update highlighted the 2021-2022 Public Policy Agenda, which was adopted by a resolution. The agenda includes a new, fifth goal on racial and social justice and will be available in its final format at the beginning of the year. The legislative update focused on bills moving in the lame-duck session, including HB13 on residential broadband, the capital budget bill, a COVID-19 relief package, the repeal of the HB6 energy legislation, as well as federal appropriations and the National Defense Authorization Act.
Smart Region Task Force - The task force has concluded its work with three deliverables: the Smart Streets Policy (guides MORPC’s funding), Smart Region Policy Playbook (guides MORPC’s work), and Smart Region Resource Guide (guides MORPC members). A resolution was adopted in support of the task force’s work, and all of the deliverables will soon be available at morpc.org/smartregion <https://www.morpc.org/tool-resource/smart-region/>.
Sustainability Advisory Committee - This report highlighted the members of the committee for 2021 and their work to update the Regional Sustainability Agenda <https://www.morpc.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/MORPC_SA_Brochure_PRINT.pdf>. We had a sneak peak of the 2020 Air Quality Report, which will be available in its entirety in early January. We thank Pataskala Mayor Mike Compton for serving as vice chair and welcome Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler to this role in 2021.
Transportation Policy Committee (Metropolitan Planning Organization) - This report highlighted the members of the Community Advisory Committee and Transportation Advisory Committees for 2021. Thanks again to Catherine Girves for her service and leadership as CAC chair. Resolutions to amend the 2021-2024 Transportation Improvement Program (making various project updates, mostly to transit) and to adopt annual safety performance measures put out by ODOT were adopted. The Transportation & Infrastructure Development has started the coordinated plan for seniors and individuals with disabilities, which will extend beyond the metropolitan planning organization area. We also want to highlight the Transportation Demand Management Strategic Plan, available here <https://www.morpc.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-TDM-PLAN.pdf>, and Employer Telework Policy Guide, available here <https://www.morpc.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-TELEWORK-GUIDE_9_17.pdf>.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
COVID-19 COMMUNITY IMPACT CALLS - Our upcoming schedule:
• Cities, Villages, Associate Members & COMMA - 3-4 p.m. Dec. 16, Jan. 20, Feb. 17, March 17
• Townships, Counties & FCTA- 3-4 p.m. Jan. 27, Feb. 24, March 24
Northwest Regional Collaboration Meeting - 9:30-10:30 a.m. Jan. 26. We look forward to meeting with public service and community planning partners from northwest Franklin County, western Delaware County, northern Madison County, Logan and Union counties. Join Microsoft Teams Meeting <https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YTZkNjJkYjYtZjdlZC00ZGY1LThkNGEtY2Y4YzQyNDBiMDNj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22d225c0aa-f4a0-4925-bc81-eaff87943970%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22dd79d673-7ff9-4f3f-a880-39bdf2f014c7%22%7d>
Ohio Conference on Freight - May 21-22. Save the date! This conference, being held virtually, offers MORPC and the Ohio Association of Regional Councils the opportunity to convene professionals from across North America to share their expertise in the areas of supply chain/logistics, smart transportation technology, freight-related transportation and economic development.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
At the beginning of next year, we’ll be focusing on our Strategic Framework to tie together much of our work that has already occurred, in addition to areas such as broadband, housing, and member resources. We’ll be having some sessions to help us refine our work. If interested, we’d look forward to your participation. Watch for more info soon.
As a reminder, the commission recesses in January, so our next commission meeting will be held virtually at 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 11. We look forward to meeting again in person sometime next year, when we will be able to show you our renovated office space!