Montgomery Council President Knapp Named Chairman of Washington COG
Release ID: 08-006
Release Date: 1/10/2008
Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-777-7939 or Brian Jones240-777-7955
From: Council Office
Montgomery Council President Knapp Named Chairman of Washington COG Will Lead Regional Organization That Represents 21 Local Metropolitan Washington Governments
ROCKVILLE, Md., January 10, 2008 – Montgomery County Council President Michael J. Knapp on Wednesday, Jan. 9, was named chairman of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).
Councilmember Knapp will serve a one-year term. He previously served as COG vice chair and has been chair of the COG-based Regional Transportation Planning Board. He replaces outgoing COG chairman of Board of the Board Vincent Gray of the District of Columbia City Council. Penelope Gross of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Kwame Brown of the District of Columbia were named vice chairs.
COG is a regional organization of Washington area local governments. COG is composed of 21 local governments surrounding our nation's capital, plus area members of the Maryland and Virginia legislatures, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
COG provides a focus for action and develops sound regional responses to such issues as the environment, affordable housing, economic development, health and family concerns, human services, population growth, public safety and transportation.
Founded in 1957, COG is an independent, nonprofit association. It is supported by financial contributions from its participating local governments, federal and state grants and contracts and donations from foundations and the private sector. Policies are set by the full membership acting through its board of directors, which meets monthly to discuss area issues.
“Long-term regional planning efforts of the past have led to many major projects that now greatly influence life for everyone who lives in the Metropolitan Washington area,” said COG Chair Knapp. “For example, about 50 years ago, planning was underway for the Beltway and 40 years ago plans were being made to construct Metro. Now we are committed to the ‘Greater Washington 2050’ discussion in which we must envision how to ensure that this area remains a vibrant, efficient and coordinated region—with all of our jurisdictions working together, not as 21 individual entities. Not all of the important needs for the next 40 years will involve major projects or even highly noticeable ones. What matters most in planning for our future is that we identify essential projects of all shapes and sizes—whether on the ground or still on paper—and focus on them now.”
In 2004, the COG Board of Directors committed to a multi-year policy focus on growth and development. The foundation for this policy focus is COG’s adopted Strategic Plan and the goals and strategies centered on growth issues. This focus does not preclude COG’s leadership and involvement on a wide-range of policies and programs; rather, it is intended to help provide a framework for potentially disconnected actions and better organize COG’s ongoing and new work. This focus also complements and leverages the priorities and activities of COG’s two independent policy boards, the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) and the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee (MWAQC).
COG’s proposed policy focus and priorities for 2008 include an examination of regional and local policies on affordable housing; a commitment to “Greater Washington 2050,” a two-year extensive discussion on regional planning activities; development of policy and program recommendations in regard to climate change; updating the National Capital Regional Emergency Coordination Plan; and an examination of illegal immigration and its impact on local governments.
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