2004-01-12 Regular Meeting, Public Hearing, and Workshop Meeting

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~-~ - :;~~, Keep La Porte Beautiful Program for La Porte In 1967 a group of Texas leaders had a vision th make Texas the cleanestr most beautiful state in the nation. The vision is alive and vrell today in the statewide network of partnerships that are the heart and soul of Keiep Tema 6iea~ilri~ /Cegv T~s Beauhf"ri/achieves its goad through a unique synergy that involves government, business, civic groups and wlunteers to address litter prevention, solid waste managemen#, recycling, composting, beautification, and general community improvement. Clean communities boost tourism. More than 180 million people visit Texas every year, with a $40.3 billion impact on the Texas economy. As of this year, 335 towns, cities, and counties in Texas have become affiliates of Keep Texas Baaulifu/in an effort to make their communities more appealing to tourists and potential businesses and residents. Last year, member support helped Keep Texas Beautiful accomplish the following: o n 26,808 miles of highway, 58,990 miles of streets, 1,161,608 acres of parts, and 3,204 miles of waterway ® Serve as the grassroots arm of the Texas Department of Transportation's Don't Mess with Texas litter prevention campaign and Adopt~a-Highway program ® Train 2,175 educators with the Waste in Place curriculum for grades K-8 ® Reform $10.26 in donations and serrvis for every public dollar provided th the KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL affiliate r>~work a ll~ucabe Texans, young and old, about the value of proper solid waste management and recycling • aVorir with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality th administer the Lake and River Cleanup Program, and with the Texas Forest Service th sponsor the Arbor Day poster contest • Reo~n~e individuals, businesses, and civic organizations for their commitment th a cleaner, healthier environment through the Keep Texas Beautiful awards • Revdard communities for environmental excellence through the Governor's Community Achievement Awards in cooperation with the Texas Departrnent of Transportation Kegv T~Beaublr~/designates the title of "affiliate" to qualifying tides and ceunties that scek to improve their communities through litter prevention, beautification of their environment and waste reduction. Affiliates receive free resouroes and materials th hold cleanup and beautification events, services and training, and access th other affiliates in the network and state agency partners. Kegp T~ Beauli/u/, tfie nonprofit state affiliate of Keep America Keautiful, strives to empower Texans through education to take responsibility for enhancing their community environment. Kew Texas ~ubyri/work with volunteers, elected officals, businesses and state and federal agencies to ensure that every Texan has the opportunity to take ind'nridual responsibility for malting Texas the cleanest, most beautiful state in the nation. The /'Ce~gv Texas S~ulilu/s affiliate program has three major goals: 1. to increase an affiliate's interest in litter prevention, slid waste management and beautification 2. to enable affiliates already involved in the KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL program to fulfill their oommitrnent 3. to encourage and help affiliates apply th the Keep America Beautiful system