Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Board of Directors
Jay Fisette, Chairman
February 8, 2006

First, thanks again to J Davis for effortlessly steering us through 2005, and to my two vice-chairs, Mayor Williams and Mike Knapp. And of course to each of you that make a commitment to be here. It is my goal to make your dedication of time and energy worthwhile during 2006.

Today I am introducing the third year of the Board's policy focus on growth and development. Planning for the growth and development we expect over the next 25 years goes to the heart of what a top-rated regional organization must do. Moreover, this effort represents for us an exciting journey into the future of the National Capital Region and an opportunity to shape that future.

At home we have many discreet decisions to make, policies to set. Rarely can we dictate a decision, but must work with others - our colleagues, constituents, neighbors and businesses. There are trade-offs in each decision. Do we consider the immediate impact? The effect on our re-election? Have we included the right people - enough people - in the decision-making process? The short term dollar cost? What about the long-term impact? How sustainable is the solution?

Each of us is here because we see some value in regionalism. Sharing ideas, learning best practices to re-shape and apply at home, and building relationships and friendships that help us do our work - and at times can nurture us as well. Some just pulled the short straw.

I firmly believe that regionalism is fundamentally important to each of our jurisdictions. I believe that regionalism will become a far more important organizing principle in the future. The world is getting smaller by the minute. The internet is our common denominator. The traditional units of authority - local governments and states - are sometimes less useful than in the past.

Economic competitiveness in the future, and we are quickly moving in this direction, will be by region - not jurisdiction. The National Capital Region will be competing with other major regions of the world. Transportation is a regional responsibility. And we all know that our land use decisions and planning must be better integrated with our transportation planning.

And the greatest challenge to our region's quality of life is posed by our growth. By our own accounts, this region will see 1.2 million more jobs and 1.6 million more people by 2030. We know that. We predict that. Where will those people and jobs go? Our individual and collective decisions will determine whether we hurt or protect our quality of life. Whether we reduce congestion, or strangle at the hands of our own prosperity. Whether we literally become the victims of our own success.

Last year's Reality Check exercise was a terrific start - raising awareness about the reality of our future growth and developing some common goals/principles.

Now, in 2006, is the time for this Board to advocate more strongly for difficult decisions and concrete change. As the late management expert, Peter Drucker once said: "Plans are only good intentions unless they degenerate into hard work."

You have before you the document that details the initiatives I propose to advance this year for the Board's focus on growth and development. My hope is that our hard work and that of the COG staff will transform these plans into real accomplishments and move the region forward.

To summarize briefly, this work program is organized in three sections. The first section, Policy Focus Initiatives, identifies issues that will require the full attention of the COG Board, the Transportation Planning Board (TPB) and the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee (MWAQC), and other Board policy committees. In order to help the region coordinate its plans, it is important for COG to coordinate its plans internally first.

For example, COG will work with TPB to continue to highlight that Board's recent study on alternative growth and transportation scenarios. We will work to identify the impact of these scenarios in a real world environment.

In addition, this year, with the help of Mike Knapp and Phil Mendelson, I hope to better coordinate the work of our three major independent policy boards that have separate, but inter-dependent roles: the COG Board, the TPB, and MWAQC. I will ask that they look for opportunities to link their work with our focus on growth and development.

The second category of focus for this year involves already existing Program Initiatives that have the capacity to sharpen our regional focus and help achieve measurable outcomes related to growth and development.

For example, COG will continue to work with local groups that plan to focus on regional growth issues this year, such as the Potomac Conference of the Greater Washington Board of Trade.

COG's Chesapeake Bay Policy Committee and its Anacostia Restoration Committee also will be asked to examine their programs as they relate to growth and development. Those programs could result in a measurable improvement in the quality of life for thousands of residents. Mayor Williams will address the on-going work on the Anacostia today.

In recognition of our global interdependence and the lessons we can learn from well beyond our borders, COG will support the Sister Cities program as it celebrates its 50th anniversary in Washington, DC this year.

The third section of the work program highlights Administrative Initiatives.

For example, we will consider an enhanced role in legislative affairs. We may consider hosting a special meeting or event for the congressional delegation and this Board, along with other local elected officials. COG may also consider developing a legislative agenda in advance of future sessions of the Maryland and Virginia legislatures and the Council of the District of Columbia.

In conclusion, I have said it before, that decisions made outside my own jurisdiction are ultimately going to have more impact on my constituents than many decisions made inside our borders.

We are inter-connected. I believe that strong regional organizations - including this COG - are fundamentally important to our futures, and that we have a responsibility to challenge ourselves to think bigger, think longer-term, think outside the box, and think together. It's not about today or tomorrow - it's about 25 years from now.

I look forward to working with everyone to have a productive year in 2006.