2001 Position Statements
Cibolo Canyon Resort Community
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce endorses the Cibolo Canyon Resort Project as an exceptional opportunity to: 1. add 1100 acres to San Antonio's park system; 2. reduce the property's potential water demand by 1200 – 1600 acre feet per year; 3. ensure environmentally sound use of the property that is developed; 4. provide hundred’s of new jobs and; 5. elevate San Antonio's status as one of the countries great visitor destinations.
Submitted By: Governmental Affairs
Approval Date: 12-13-2001
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Congressional Economic Stimulus Package
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports and encourages Congress and the President to include in its economic stimulus package a $5 billion drawdown from the federal highway trust fund for transportation initiatives.
Submitted By: Governmental Affairs
Approval Date: 12-13-2001
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Review of Approved City of San Antonio Streets & Drainage Bond Program
To honor the wishes of the voters and to provide an economic stimulus, The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce urges the City of San Antonio to accelerate funding on all outstanding street and drainage projects approved by the voters in past Bond elections. The Chamber recommends the City: 1. provide funding to adequately staff and/or outsource the Capital Improvements Projects (CIP) Division of the Public Works Department; 2. provide the CIP staff with appropriate training, information systems, and other
support needed to manage the projects assigned to them; 3. a performance audit of the Public Works Department in an effort to enhance opportunities for efficiency; 4. identify and investigate alternative funding sources to meet the transportation mobility needs of San Antonio; 5. complete preliminary engineering studies that reflect correct scoping of projects; 6. develop aggressive timelines for projects; 7. increase the sense of urgency in the review and approval of submittals. When significant progress has
been made, The Chamber will then discuss the need for future Bond Program projects.
Submitted By: Executive Committee
Approval Date: 12-13-2001
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‘Taking Care of Our Own' – Support for our military, reservists, and national guard through a proactive business community response.
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce encourages the Business
Community of San Antonio to proactively respond to the financial needs of the employee's
families of the men and women in the Reserves and National Guard who have been called to
active duty in defense of their country as a result of the "Attack on America" on September
11, 2001. The Chamber recommends that local employers should:
1. Review pertinent laws and regulations dealing with "active duty call ups", such as the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA).
2. Review and consider the existing military family support systems as a source
for advice and financial support for their active duty employee's families.
3. Review their company's compensation policies with regard to pay and benefits for their employees called to active duty. The Chamber encourages employers to "take care of their own" by making up all or part of the difference between their military pay and their civilian pay checks.
4. Support the San Antonio ASSIST Fund, which will offer supplementary financial support to the families of men and women in the Reserves and National Guard who are called to active duty, and also active duty military who are called away in defense of our country.
Submitted By: Military & Industries Council
Approval Date: 10-25-2001
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New Policy Regarding Payment for Chamber Events, Goods and Services
Beginning January 1, 2002, all chamber events, trips, publications, etc., will be paid for in advance of the event or other goods or services provided. This may be done by cash, check or credit card. Exceptions to this rule may be made on those occasions when authorized by The Chamber President or his designee.
Submitted By: Executive Committee
Approval Date: 10-25-2001
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Proposition 19: Providing for the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds by the Texas Water Development Board.
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports passage of Proposition 19 providing for the issuance by the Texas Water Development Board of up to $2 billion in additioinal general obligation bonds for water supply and water quality projects, flood control, and for state participation projects.
Submitted By: Governmental Affairs Council
Approval Date: 10-25-2001
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Center for the Advancement of Global Health. (CAGH)
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce endorses the creation of an international Center for the Advancement of Global Health (CAGH) through expanded collaboration between government, academic, research, and civilian communities. The CAGH will facilitate the training and partnerships between national and international medical response teams and, if requested, support rapid medical response to major emergencies in the United States and internationally. In addition, it will investigate use of deployable medical
technologies suitable for austere environments.
Submitted By: Technology Council
Approval Date: 09-27-2001
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City Council Charter Revision – Greater City Council Authority in the Employment and Removal of the City Attorney.
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports passage of the proposed City of San Antonio Charter revision, which allows for greater authority by City Council in the employment and removal of the City Attorney.
Submitted By: Governmental Affairs Council
Approval Date: 09-27-2001
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City Council Charter Revision – Removal of Municipal Civil Service Designation to Certain City Positions and Licensed Professionals
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports passage of the proposed City of San Antonio Charter revision, which allows for removal of Municipal Civil Service designation to certain licensed professional city employees and executive city employees.
Submitted By: Governmental Affairs Council
Approval Date: 09-27-2001
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City Council Charter Revision - Creation of a Department of Internal Audit
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports passage of the proposed City of San Antonio Charter revision which allows for the creation of the position of an independent City Internal Auditor.
Submitted By: Government
Approval Date: 09-27-2001
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City Council Charter Revision - Greater City Council Authority in the Employment and Removal of the City Attorney
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports passage of the proposed City of San Antonio Charter revision which allows for greater authority by City Council in the employment and removal of the City Attorney.
Submitted By: Government
Approval Date: 09-27-2001
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City Council Charter Revision - Removal of Municipal Civil Service Designation to Certain City Positions and Licensed Professionals
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports passage of the proposed City of San Antonio Charter revision which allows for removal of Municipal Civil Service designation to certain licensed professional City employees and executive City employees.
Submitted By: Government
Approval Date: 09-27-2001
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Kelly Parkway Corridor
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the development of the Kelly Parkway Corridor. By linking the two areas of KellyUSA, the Parkway will enhance the job-creation opportunities of San Antonio. The Kelly Parkway alignment should take into account neighborhood concerns as well as economic development concerns, and particularly should compliment expansion opportunities of the proposed intermodal terminal to major highways and arterials. Kelly Parkway should facilitate proposed freight rail expansion.
Submitted By: Governmental Affairs Council
Approval Date: 09-27-2001
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Proposition 15: Texas Mobility Fund
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports passage of a constitutional amendment (Proposition 15) creating the Texas Mobility Fund in the state treasury.
Submitted By: Governmental Affairs Council
Approval Date: 09-27-2001
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Proposition 2: Border Colonia Roadways
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports passage of Proposition 2 proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds or notes to provide financial assistance to counties for roadway projects to serve border colonias.
Submitted By: Governmental Affairs Council
Approval Date: 09-27-2001
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Working Family Agenda Ordinance
With regards to the proposed Working Family Agenda ordinance, The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce has the following position: 1) The Chamber recognizes the City of San Antonio's authority to set the wage level for all City employees. 2) The Chamber opposes the City interfering with the free-market system as it relates to wages paid by any private-sector employer. 3) The Chamber opposes the City forcing any private-sector employer to enter in agreements with any labor organization. 4) The proposed ordinance
would add additional roadblocks to small and Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) opportunities.
Submitted By: Government
Approval Date: 09-27-2001
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Non-member Charges for Chamber Events
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce endorses and supports establishing a meaningful price differential in the amount charged non-members who attend Chamber special events. In general, the charge to non-members for all Chamber events, products and services should be one and one-half times the charge to members. The President of The Chamber is authorized to make exceptions to this policy when appropriate.
Submitted By: Membership
Approval Date: 06-28-2001
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San Antonio River Channel Improvements
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the efforts of the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) to develop and improve the San Antonio River Channel as an economic development asset, a tourism development area and as an inland waterway. In addition, The Chamber supports this project as a productive way to increase the community's quality of life linking people and neighborhoods with economic development, environmental restoration and cultural resources.
Approval Date: 06-28-2001
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Support for the Texas A&M University - Kingsville Syste Center - Palo Alto
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, in its efforts to improve the educational level of San Antonio's workforce, supports the Texas A&M University - Kingsville System Center - Palo Alto in its mission to address the educational need in south San Antonio. The Chamber encourages its members to promote continued growth of the Palo Alto System Center as it increases attendance, improves facilities, and adds additional higher education courses to its current curriculum.
Submitted By: Education
Approval Date: 06-28-2001
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Center for Information Assurance and Security (CIAS)
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce agrees with and endorses the need to create a Center for Information Assurance and Security (CIAS) at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) as a focal point in the region to develop the information technology (IT) security that already exists in the area. In a coordinated effort among the Air Intelligence Agency (AIA), private industry and UTSA, The Center for Information Assurance and Security will serve as a research and development resource to further develop
the tremendous base of IT security assets existing in San Antonio.
Submitted By: Technology
Approval Date: 05-31-2001
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Center for Collaborative Technology Innovations (CCTI)
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce agrees with and endorses the need to Create a Center for Collaborative Technology Innovations (CCTI) at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). The vision is to create a stable region-wide infrastructure that includes academic, business, and government programs to support continued growth of an emerging bioindustry in San Antonio.
Approval Date: 04-26-2001
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San Antonio Independent School District 2001 Bond Issue
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce recognizes that the well-being and education of children are vital to the future of our society, and that students in the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) merit the appropriate facilities and conditions in which to grow and learn. Therefore, The Chamber endorses and urges passage of the SAISD $126.5 million bond issue, which does not include a tax increase, to be voted on May 5, 2001, and encourages the continuation of the Citizens Oversight Committee
to monitor the application of bond monies.
Submitted By: Government
Approval Date: 04-26-2001
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Texas Scholars Program
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the Texas Scholars Program, a product of the Texas Business and Education Coalition, as a proven, inexpensive and practical program designed to motivate all students to complete the rigorous coursework required in the state Recommended High School Program. Further, The Chamber endorses this program as the best method to assist students, parents and the public school system in the understanding that good, well-paying jobs for the 21st Century will only go to
those who have prepared themselves by obtaining a fundamentally sound academic education.
Submitted By: Education
Approval Date: 04-26-2001
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"It's 10 o'clock. Do You Know Where Your Children Are?" Public Service Announcement Campaign
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports efforts to revitalize the "It's 10 o'clock. Do You Know Where Your Children Are?" public service announcement campaign focused on parental awareness in order to help efforts to reduce crime and delinquent behavior among teens.
Approval Date: 03-22-2001
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San Antonio Joint Life Sciences Institute
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce endorses and urges the creation of the San Antonio Joint Life Sciences Institute, a partnership between the University of Texas, San Antonio and the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. This structure would promote the development and implementation of joint degree programs and would enhance the competitiveness of both institutions in securing extramural research funds. It also would contribute greatly to the goals of the San Antonio Technology Accelerator
Initiative.
Submitted By: Technology
Approval Date: 03-22-2001
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Unified Development Code
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the revision of the City of San Antonio's Unified Development Code (UDC) as a governing document that promotes a positive quality of life in San Antonio while also supporting positive economic development. The Chamber encourages the San Antonio City Council to consider all sections of the UDC at one time utilizing the established timeline and supports the continued participation of the Citizens Oversight Committee and the Neighborhood Associations as they work
with the Planning Department of the City of San Antonio to review and suggest changes to the UDC. The Chamber further encourages the San Antonio City Council to support the work of the UDC Oversight Committee and that it continue through the final approval of the document.
Submitted By: Government
Approval Date: 03-22-2001
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South Texas Environmental Research Institute
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce endorses and urges the creation of the South Texas Environmental Research Institute to enhance public health in South Texas and the Texas/Mexico border region through collaborative programs involving academic, government and private sector organizations to better address regional issues of environmental public health, air and water quality and environmental policy.
Submitted By: Government
Approval Date: 02-22-2001
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Northside Independent School District Bond Issue
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce recognizes that the well-being and education of children are vital to the future of our society and our community's work force development, and that students in the Northside Independent School District (NISD) merit the appropriate facilities and conditions in which to grow and learn. Therefore, The Chamber endorses and urges passage of the NISD $495 million bond proposals to be voted on February 24, 2001.
Submitted By: Government
Approval Date: 01-25-2001
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