Executive Director Lawrence Rael
Lawrence Rael brings a wealth of experience to the job of Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments – from the City, State, and Federal sectors. He has served in the capacity of Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Albuquerque for three separate Mayoral terms from 1990 through 2001. As CAO, Lawrence oversaw a number of major projects including the construction of a new professional baseball complex and the largest expansion of the Albuquerque Sunport.
Lawrence received his Master’s Degree in Public Administration at the University of New Mexico, with post graduate work at Harvard University’s School of Public Policy.
He is married to the former Kim Sanchez of Raton, New Mexico. The Raels’ live in Albuquerque’s North Valley with their three children: Lawrence, Anna, and Benna.
The Mid-Region Council of Governments provides urban and rural planning in central New Mexico.
Representing the counties of Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance, and Sandoval, we support modern transportation, abundant local agriculture, clean & efficient water systems, economic growth, and a ready workforce.
History of MRCOG
The Mid-Region Council of Governments of New Mexico (MRCOG) is an association of local governments and special units of government within the State’s Third Planning District. The MRCOG was established December 11, 1969, under the authority of the Regional Planning Act and under the Joint Powers Act. Municipal and County government agencies in Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance, and Sandoval Counties, plus Edgewood in Santa Fe County, are members, as well as groups like Albuquerque Public Schools, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and the Pueblos. Elected and appointed representatives of these organizations serve on the MRCOG’s Board of Directors and give the organization direction. (Read more about member organizations).
The MRCOG was created to conduct and coordinate regional planning and other services as directed by its Board of Directors. It provides a forum where local elected officials from across the region can meet and discuss issues that do not begin or end at artificial, political boundaries. MRCOG’s role is advisory with the primary task to provide member governments with data and plans to allow them to make better informed decisions.
MRCOG Mission and Function
The MRCOG mission is to strengthen individual communities by identifying and initiating regional planning strategies through open dialogue and collaboration between the member governments.
The MRCOG is the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Albuquerque Metropolitan Planning Area (AMPA). A major responsibility of the MPO is coordinate with Federal, state, and local transportation planning organizations to develop the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) which identifies the transportation planning priorities for the Albuquerque metropolitan area.
The MRCOG is also serving as the agent for the NMDOT to implement commuter rail service between Belen and Bernalillo, and ultimately Bernalillo to Santa Fe. The MRCOG is involved in activities such as: 1) procurement of equipment; 2) environmental, engineering, design, and construction of facilities; and 3) marketing and operation of the commuter rail service.
The MRCOG provides a variety of services to its member governments and is funded through a combination of participation fees, federal, state and other grants. Services provided include planning and technical assistance in the fields of transportation, economic development, ordinances, zoning, job training and other special projects as requested. Areas of technical expertise include map making and Geographic Information Systems analysis; gathering data about population, employment, land use, and traffic flow, as well as developing forecasts to project what these figures will be in the future.
History of Regional Councils
Sometimes referred to as a regional council, organizations like as MRCOG exist throughout the United States.
A regional council is a multi-service entity with state and locally-defined boundaries that delivers a variety of federal, state and local programs while continuing its function as a planning organization, technical assistance provider and “visionary” to its member local governments. As such, they are accountable to local units of government and effective partners for state and federal governments.
Conceived in the 1960s, regional councils today are stable, broad-based organizations adept at consensus-building, creating partnerships, providing services, problem solving and fiscal management. The role of the regional council has been shaped by the changing dynamics in federal, state and local government relations, and the growing recognition that the region is the arena in which local governments must work together to resolve social and environmental challenges.
Regional councils have carved out a valuable niche for themselves as reliable agents and many operate more independent of federal funding. Comprehensive and transportation planning, economic development, workforce development, the environment, services for the elderly and clearinghouse functions are among the types of programs managed by regional councils.
Definition provided by the National Association of Regional Councils
Governance: Boards and Committees
MRCOG Board of Directors and Executive Board
Metropolitan Transportation Board
Rural Transportation Planning Organization Technical Advisory Committee
Water Resources Board
Mid-Region Transit District Board
Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico (WCCNM) Chief Elected Officials
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