About Us

	Community and industry members meet together each month for dinner and discussion about topics of mutual concern. CAC Member Russ Kuykendall talks with Harris County Industrial Liaison David Wade and Sam Pipkin from the City of Deer Park's Office of Emergency Services.

The Deer Park Community Advisory Council (DPCAC) is a forum for an open and frank mutual exchange of ideas between industry and community. Comprised of representatives of the local community and industry, the group engages in frequent dialogue to develop a shared understanding of the interdependency of industry and community. The Deer Park CAC serves as a resource to industry and the community at large on topics such as health, occupational, environmental, and economic issues.

	Kerry Spaulding from the Department of Homeland Security was a recent Speaker at a Deer Park CAC meeting.

> Influences industry decision makers by sharing community questions, concerns, and suggestions about plant operations.

> Provides input to the communities from the plants about plant operations and issues of plant or community concern.

> Provides a mechanism for plants to "test" ideas/plans before they are implemented.

> Promotes understanding of and addresses identified community/industry issues that are important to the community.

> Serves as a means to "educate" the community about the plants and the plants about the community.

	Three CAC members staff the CAC's booth at the "Totally Texas Festival" and pass out free information about the Deer Park CAC.

Formed in 1990. Meets 9-10 times a year at plants or in community buildings. Members select agenda items. Major topics relate to industry and include health, safety, environment, transportation, and emergencies. Address topics by group discussion, plant presentations and data-sharing, tours of plants and related facilities, and inviting speakers from different perspectives to share their views. Ground rules guide work. Meetings run by neutral third-party facilitator, selected by members, who also helps group organize its work and carry out plans.

	Community member Ken Donnell visits with student Heather Vega.

Community members live, work, or attend school in Deer Park, Texas, have businesses serving the community, or serve as elected officials in Deer Park. Community members include small business owners, high school students, school teachers and coaches, school administrator, school board member, parents of young children, community volunteers, Rotary leader, state legislators, city staff, Realtor, industrial painter, park superintendent, dentist, and retired plant workers.

Industry members represent a petrochemical plant, refinery, storage terminal, or other industrial facility located in Deer Park, Texas. Community members have requested each plant send a senior level manager and the community relations manager, if full time. Representatives include 17 plant managers or operations managers, plus three community relations managers.

The DPCAC keeps the proportion of community-to-industry members approximately two-to-one.

If you're interested in joining the DPCAC or attending one of our meetings, please contact our facilitator Diane Sheridan at: info@deerparkcac.org