2003 Position Statements

2003 BEXAR COUNTY BOND ELECTION

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the 2003 Bexar County Bond Proposal valued at approximately $99 million. However, The Chamber?s support for the current proposal is contingent upon Bexar County?s commitment with the City of San Antonio to create a Citizen Bond Oversight Committee to oversee the implementation of current and proposed bond programs, perform annual reviews of the Capital Improvement Plan, and oversee and participate in the public input process

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 09-25-2003

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NORTH EAST INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND ISSUE

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the $449 million bond initiative for the North East Independent School District (NEISD) and the creation of an NEISD Citizen Bond Oversight Committee. The Chamber believes this bond initiative?s passage is required in order to provide adequate facilities and equipment to accommodate NEISD?s extraordinary growth in recent years. The Chamber?s Education Task Force, Ad Hoc City / County / School Bond Committee, and the North East Area Business Council urge all NEISD residents to vote in this important election and endorse the passage of the 2003 NEISD Bond Proposal in the November 4 election.

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 09-25-2003

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TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF) / TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE (TIRZ) GUIDELINES

STATEMENT: The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the concept of Tax Increment Financing, within designated Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones in the City of San Antonio. The Chamber believes a TIF/TIRZ is an appropriate financing mechanism to revitalize an economically distressed geographic area.
The Chamber also believes the City Council should adopt specific criteria on whether a specific area would qualify for a TIF/TIRZ. This specific criteria should:

1) include a higher percentage of (reimbursed) tax increment based on whether the project is on the City?s Targeted Industry list and/or whether a project is within inner city boundaries; and

2) include, but not be limited to: average income, Community Reinvestment Act designation, levels of visible blight or distress, environmental remediation/cleanup, and the reclamation of land that may not economically be developed otherwise.

The policy developed by the Blue Ribbon Committee on Tax Incentives sought to answer the following four questions:

1. Does The Chamber support TIF/TIRZs as an economic development incentive? YES

2. Does The Chamber believe that TIF/TIRZs should be used in solely economically distressed areas? NO

3. Does The Chamber think TIF/TIRZs should be granted for projects other than inner city or the City?s Targeted Industry List? YES

4. Does The Chamber think there should be a higher level or percentage of incentive for projects in the inner city or in the City?s Targeted Industry List? YES

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure Council
Approval Date: 09-25-2003

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TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF) / TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE (TIRZ) GUIDELINES

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the concept of Tax Increment Financing, within designated Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones in the City of San Antonio. The Chamber believes a TIF/TIRZ is an appropriate financing mechanism to revitalize an economically distressed geographic area. The Chamber also believes the City Council should adopt specific criteria on whether a specific area would qualify for a TIF/TIRZ. This specific criteria should: 1) include a higher percentage of (reimbursed) tax increment based on whether the project is on the City?s Targeted Industry list and/or whether a project is within inner city boundaries; and 2) include, but not be limited to: average income, Community Reinvestment Act designation, levels of visible blight or distress, environmental remediation/cleanup, and the reclamation of land that may not economically be developed otherwise.
The policy developed by the Blue Ribbon Committee on Tax Incentives sought to answer the following four questions:

1. Does The Chamber support TIF/TIRZs as an economic development incentive? YES

2. Does The Chamber believe that TIF/TIRZs should be used in solely economically distressed areas? NO

3. Does The Chamber think TIF/TIRZs should be granted for projects other than inner city or the City?s Targeted Industry List? YES

4. Does The Chamber think there should be a higher level or percentage of incentive for projects in the inner city or in the City?s Targeted Industry List? YES

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 09-25-2003

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PROPOSITION 12 ? TORT REFORM

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce urges the citizens of Texas to support the passage of and vote favorably September 13 on Proposition 12 ? Tort Reform, which immediately authorizes the Legislature, through House Joint Resolution 3, to limit non-economic damages assessed against a medical or healthcare provider and, after January 1, 2005, to limit awards in all other types of cases

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 08-28-2003

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SEPTEMBER 13 ELECTION ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ? PROPOSITIONS 6, 8, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the following eight of 22 constitutional amendments on the September 13 statewide election ballot and encourages Texas voters to vote on these amendments favorably:
? Proposition 6 ? HJR 23 ? authorizing a qualified homeowner to refinance a home equity loan with a reverse mortgage.

? Proposition 8 ? HJR 62 ? authorizing the legislature to permit a person to assume office without an election if the person is the only candidate to qualify in an election for that office (applies to state and local political subdivisions)

? Proposition 9 ? HJR 68 ? authorizing annual distributions to the available school fund a percentage of any increase in the value of the permanent school fund?s total investment assets.

? Proposition 12 ? HJR 3 ? authorizing the legislature to limit non-economic damages assessed against a provider of medical or healthcare and, after January 1, 2005, to limit awards in all other types of cases.

? Proposition 14 ? HJR 28 ? authorizing TxDOT to issue notes or borrow money (may not exceed two years) to fund highway improvement projects.

? Proposition 16 ? SJR 42 ? authorizing home equity lines of credit and allowing refinancing of a home equity loan with a reverse mortgage loan.

? Proposition 18 ? HJR 59 ? authorizing the legislature to permit a person to assume an office of a political subdivision without an election if the person is the only candidate to qualify in an election for that office (applies only to local political subdivisions).

? Proposition 20 ? SJR 55 ? authorizing the legislature to issue $250 million in general obligation bonds to provide loans for economic development projects that benefit defense-related communities in Texas.

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 08-28-2003

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SMART START CORPORATE CHILD-CARE COLLABORATIVE

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the City of San Antonio?s Smart Start Corporate Child Care Collaborative and encourages local businesses to become a Smart Start Business by applying for a ?Family-Friendly Business Designation?. This designation can be beneficial to all businesses, especially small to medium sized employers, in their recruitment and retention efforts while creating a low-cost, positive family-friendly work environment.

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 08-28-2003

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REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITY

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the creation of a Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) for Bexar County and surrounding counties, as appropriate, to provide alternative funding for transportation enhancements and accelerate implementation of priority mobility infrastructure projects, reasonably determined to be needed and feasible. The Chamber encourages Bexar County Commissioner?s Court to submit a system-wide transportation network to be designated as the initial project in the RMA application to TxDOT and to prioritize segments within the network fairly and equitably. The Chamber also supports the authority of the RMA to use the proceeds of revenue bonds repaid by local toll revenues to be applied toward local projects.

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 07-24-2003

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CPS STRATEGIC ENERGY PLAN & PROPOSED COAL FIRED PLANT

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports City Public Service?s Strategic Energy Plan, and the proposed low-emission coal fired plant project at Calaveras Lake, scheduled for construction in 2004 or 2005 and beginning production by early 2009. The Chamber believes the plan addresses Bexar County?s increasing demand for power in an efficient, cost-effective manner.

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 06-26-2003

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HB 872 - RELATING TO THE DATES ON WHICH ELECTIONS MAY BE HELD (FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS)

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the legislative intent of HB 872 to create a uniform election calendar and reduce the cost of elections to the State. However, The Chamber also supports an amendment to the bill to include an optional date, which currently exists in State law. This would continue to allow school districts the option of holding a bond election on an alternate date at their own cost, once per biennium. School districts would continue to avoid high demand for construction services and subsequently rising construction costs, by staggering their bond elections on optional dates.

Approval Date: 05-20-2003

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HB 872 - RELATING TO THE DATES ON WHICH ELECTIONS MAY BE HELD (FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS)

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 05-20-2003

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S.B. 1491 – TEXAS EQUITY FUND BILL

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the passage of S.B. 1491, also known as Texas Equity Fund bill, which would create a statewide venture capital investment fund and provide contingent franchise tax credits as a guarantee to certain investors, providing up to $200 million in venture capital for use by Texas companies.
Approval Date: 05-20-2003

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MEMBERSHIP DUES

Effective immediately, the Board of Directors authorizes the minimum investment in The Chamber to be $400. The Board of Directors further authorizes the creation of six (6) levels of investment:
Business - $400-$800
Gold - $801-$1,999
Platinum - $2,000-$3,1999
Platinum Plus - $3,200-$4,999
Chairman's Circle - $5,000-$9,999
Board of Advisors - $10,000 and above.

Members of the Board of Directors need to be at the parity level.

Submitted By: Executive Committee
Approval Date: 03-27-2003

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S.B. 86 - HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AUTOMATIC ADMISSION ELIGIBILITY

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the passage of S.B. 86, which would require high school students to take, at a minimum, the Recommended High School Program (RHSP) in order to be eligible for automatic admission to a state-supported institution of higher education. The Chamber?s support of this bill?s passage complements its efforts on the Texas Scholars Program, designed to motivate students to complete the rigorous coursework required in the state RHSP.

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 03-27-2003

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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMITTEE ON INTEGRITY & TRUST

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce believes the Mayor?s Committee on Integrity & Trust should not make it more difficult for 1) good, qualified people to run for office; 2) small, minority and women owned businesses to apply for and receive City contracts and participate in the political process; 3) good, honest professional local firms, e.g., accounting, law, engineering, and architectural, to apply for and receive City contracts; or 4) for the general business community to do business with the City. The Chamber also supports practices that ensure honest open government.
In terms of immediate changes, The Chamber believes there would be support for reasonable limits on campaign contributions and for disclosure of contributors? employers. Without knowing a potential source of revenue, we believe there may be opposition to public financing of campaigns. At this time, there does not appear to be consensus on the benefits of proposed changes currently being discussed regarding zoning and discretionary contracts.

With regard to addressing longer-term concerns, The Chamber does recommend the City Council ask voters to consider amending the City Charter to 1) extend term limits beyond the current two-year terms; 2) increase council pay; and 3) eliminate the lifetime ban for running for City Council. Also, we believe education and orientation for new members of the City Council (including ethics training sessions), affording the ability to seek guidance on ethics questions from outside counsel, and providing for an anonymous hotline for ethics infractions reporting should be considered in addressing the impetus of the Mayor?s Committee.

Finally, The Chamber is concerned that there is inadequate time for the Mayor?s Committee to develop reasonable positions and recommendations and secure sufficient public comment by the end of January 2003. The Chamber believes it is a basic concept of good governance that a government should afford those affected by a proposed action the opportunity to comment on the proposal.

Accordingly, when the opportunity for comment is perceived as unreasonably and/or intentionally short, there is the perception that the outcome could be predetermined. This works against building trust in government, the very charge the committee has been asked to help implement. Many of the changes will require City Charter revisions, which cannot be acted upon by the voters until November 2003. We urge the Mayor to consider extending the Committee?s deadline.

The Executive Committee has authorized the Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Advocacy & Community Infrastructure Council, and President & CEO to make determinations, with the consensus of The Chamber?s Ad Hoc Committee on Integrity & Trust, on various proposals the Mayor?s Committee is considering. This authority will enable The Chamber to submit timely recommendations before the final report is given to the City Council.

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 01-30-2003

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REQUIREMENT CHANGES FOR DUAL CREDIT FUNDING

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce urges the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to amend the Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies, required by Texas Education Codes 130.008 (d) and 130.090(d), to allow school districts who have students enrolled in dual credit courses, such as the Alamo Area Aerospace Academy and Information Technology and Security Academy, to receive ADA credit for students who are participating in such programs by modifying paragraph 2.A. in the aforementioned MOU to read, ?Enrollment in three or more instructional hours of high school credit-only courses?? from the original ?four or more instructional hours? and/or by allowing transportation time to and from dual credit courses to be counted as high school instruction.

Submitted By: Executive Committee
Approval Date: 01-30-2003

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SUPPORT FOR SECURITY MEASURES AT FT. SAM HOUSTON

The Board of Directors of The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce realizes the need for adequate security at Ft. Sam Houston, strongly supports its current efforts, and urges The City of San Antonio to develop and implement long term, permanent solutions to meet the needs of the affected business community by working in conjunction with local neighborhood groups, Ft. Sam Houston, affected businesses and The Chamber?s East Area Business Council.

Submitted By: Military Affairs Council
Approval Date: 01-30-2003

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TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the creation of the Texas A&M University System Irrigation Technology Center in San Antonio (Edwards Aquifer area) to establish a world-class, state-of-the-art facility for education, testing, and applied research, to promote efficient irrigation, water conservation, profitable agricultural production, and quality urban landscapes.

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 01-30-2003

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TRANS TEXAS CORRIDOR PLAN

The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports Gov. Rick Perry?s vision and implementation of a long-term conceptual plan to address the state?s transportation concerns and endorses the ?Trans Texas Corridor.? The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) proposed plan is designed to build a new type of transportation system in Texas, which will serve as a network of wide corridors designed to transport people, goods, and utilities faster and safer throughout our state. The Chamber believes San Antonio should be fully engaged during the development and public input process of the proposed plan to provide for enhanced statewide mobility and San Antonio?s future economic development.

Submitted By: Advocacy & Community Infrastructure
Approval Date: 01-30-2003