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2005 Position Statements
High Density Downtown Residential Development
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce urges the City of San Antonio and members of City Council to support the creation of a Blue Ribbon Task Force to study and develop a comprehensive development incentive proposal to accelerate the development of mixed-use, multi-unit housing in and around downtown San Antonio.
Submitted By: Area Business Councils/Small Business
Approval Date: 12-14-2005
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St. Paul Gateway District Quiet Zone
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports using Inner-City Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) funds for the creation of a "quiet zone" in the St. Paul Gateway Dsitrict to lessen noise from passing trains, and encourage business development in the area.
Submitted By: Area Business Councils/Small Business
Approval Date: 12-14-2005
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Video Lottery Terminals at Texas Pari-Mutuel Race Tracks
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports Retama Park and other Texas pari-mutuel racetracks acquisition of Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) in order to compete with Texas? neighboring states which already provide electronic gaming at racetracks and potential casinos in Mexico. The Chamber supports the Texas Legislature amending Chapter 47 of the Texas Penal Code to allow VLTs to be located within the footprint at existing pari-mutuel racetracks.
Submitted By: Public Affairs
Approval Date: 12-14-2005
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SAWS Proposed Water Rate Increase
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the San Antonio Water System?s (SAWS) proposed water rate increase of 4.8% for FY 2006 to continue improving water service and resource management and development. The Chamber?s support for future rate increases is contingent upon SAWS demonstrating its progress through annual performance and accountability measures.
Submitted By: Public Affairs
Approval Date: 11-16-2005
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Constitutional Amendments on the November 8th Ballot
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the following Propositions on the November 8th ballot: Proposition 1 (creation of the Texas rail relocation fund), Proposition 3 (clarifying that certain economic development programs do not constitute a debt), Proposition 5 (allowing the Texas legislature to define rates of interest for commercial loans), Proposition 7 (authoring line-of-credit advances under a reverse mortgage) and Proposition 9 (authorizing the legislature to provide for a six-year term
for a board member of a regional mobility authority).
Submitted By: Public Affairs
Approval Date: 09-29-2005
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Crime Control and Prevention District
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce endorses and urges voters to support the Crime Control and Prevention District (CCPD) initiative, which calls for the adoption of 1/8 of one percent increase in the local sales tax on the November 8, 2005. The Chamber?s endorsement is conditioned on 1) the appointment of an independent CCPD Board by City Council and 2) Council?s commitment that CCPD funds will not be used to supplant nor replace funding from the City?s General Fund.
Submitted By: Public Affairs
Approval Date: 09-29-2005
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Alamo Community College District (ACCD) Bond Initiative
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the Alamo Community College District (ACCD) proposed a $450 million bond initiative that will go before Bexar County voters on November 1, 2005. Support from The Chamber is contingent upon 1) Unanimous support of the ACCD Board of Trustees for calling the bond election 2) Evidence of broad based community support for this proposal; and 3) Creation of a Citizens Bond Oversight Committee as recommended by the ACCD Citizens Capital Improvement Projects Bond to
oversee the implementation of bond program as presented to the voters.
Reasons for Support:
1. ACCD will be able to accommodate more academic, training and certification programs. ACCD will have the ability to graduate more students, which will increase the availability of a skilled workforce, and enhance economic development opportunities within our community.
2. This Bond package calls for expanding the Nursing and Allied Health Programs at existing campuses. New facilities, such as the proposed Northeast Campus, will provide higher education accessibility and accommodate the population growth of Bexar and surrounding counties.
3. Through a Citizens Bond Committee, the District has received community input in formulating a bond package that will is supported by a diverse cross section of the community, including most of those who opposed the last bond election.
Submitted By: Public Affairs
Approval Date: 08-18-2005
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Wright Amendment
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce has been a longstanding advocate for free enterprise, competition and an open marketplace. The Chamber also supports any effort to provide greater flexibility and reduced fares for our citizens seeking air travel to and from San Antonio. Therefore The Chamber supports the repeal of the Wright Amendment.
Submitted By: Public Affairs Council
Approval Date: 07-21-2005
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Convention Center Hotel Neutrality Agreement
The Chamber and the Hospitality Industry are strongly opposed to any efforts by members of City Council or other entities to suggest, encourage or coerce the developer of the Convention Center Hotel to enter into to a Neutrality Agreement as part of their contract agreement with the City of San Antonio. We believe it is critical to protect the rights of both employers and employees as currently provided under existing state and federal regulations and oppose any effort to eliminate employee rights for a secret
ballot election or to extinguish free-speech rights of employers.
Submitted By: Economic Development Council
Approval Date: 04-28-2005
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Dominican Republic - Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA)
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce urges the United States Congress to support the passage of the Dominican Republic - Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) in order to further open markets and benefit U.S. industries through increased exports and imports.
Submitted By: Economic Development
Approval Date: 02-24-2005
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San Antonio Western Art & Heritage Center
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the creation of a Western Arts & Heritage Center in downtown San Antonio that will be a cultural and arts attraction exhibiting the best of San Antonio's western history for local residents and visitors to our city.
Submitted By: Economic Development
Approval Date: 02-24-2005
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City Public Service (CPS) Planned Cagnon-to-Kendall Power Line
The Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce supports the new power line recommended by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to provide assured long-term electric service to the San Antonio region. The Chamber also supports the LCRA/CPS partnership to construct the line and the decisions of the partners regarding the line?s route.
Submitted By: Public Affairs
Approval Date: 01-18-2005
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