Monday Morning Report
April 16, 2007

Internal

Let us know at council@thecorridor.org if you find a bad link or have ideas for additional links or format changes.

The Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, 2 p.m. on April 18 at the Corridor Council offices located at 304 N. CM Allen Parkway in San Marcos.  Please RSVP to Ann Rogers if you plan to attend.

The Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail Board District meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on May 4 at the San Marcos Activity Center located at 501 E. Hopkins in San Marcos. 

Infrastructure

A "Roll-Out" press conference tomorrow with Mayor Phil Hardberger and Judge Nelson Wolff (Bexar County) will introduce a new San Antonio-Mexico strategic marketing plan, designed to increase commerce and air travel with Mexico through efforts that build upon existing ties. View the plan

State and local officials are planning some grade-crossing improvements in New Braunfels along the Union Pacific rail route, and here's a story that offers some details on the kinds of issues that arise from having 34 trains a day moving through your city. Details

NASCO (North America’s SuperCorridor Coalition) hosts 'Moving North America Forward' May 30-June 1 in Ft. Worth. More than 350 transportation, logistics and economic development specialists from Mexico, the United States and Canada are expected to discuss trade and transportation issues.  For more details: www.nascocorridor.com or call Rachel Connell at 214-744-1006.

Unusual political pairings: Even after an extremely hard-fought mayoral battle several years ago, with each airing tough TV commercials against the other, San Antonio mayor Phil Hardberger and former challenger Julian Castro are making nice once again. Castro is even co-chairing a fundraiser for Hardberger. Details

Patience And The Federal Transit Administration - A Cautionary Tale: It’s taken 80 years, but MTA New York City Transit started construction last week on the Second Avenue Subway project with (finally) help from the FTA. The agency broke ground on the project’s $3.8 billion first phase, operational by 2013.

Wow. Andres Duany, the New Urbanist guru, gave an interview to the Austin Chronicle last week that demonstrates why he's known as an iconoclast: He ridiculed the city's new Marriott deal ("you don't have to go on every date") blasted the Planned Unit Development ordinance, and said the city is not yet ready for a downtown circulator. Read more

Please mark your calendars for the Inaugural Board Mixer for the Boards of Directors of Envision Central Texas & the Real Estate Council of Austin on April 30, 5:00-6:30 p.m. RSVP to info@recaonline.com (512) 320-4151 if you can attend.

The San Antonio Free Trade Alliance is sponsoring its 8th Congressional Free Trade Forum Luncheon on May 31 at the University of the Incarnate Word, Sky Room.  Discussion topics will include immigration reform, San Antonio as a designated port of entry, implementation of cross-border trucking pilot program and free trade agreements with Latin America and Asia. For more information please call (210) 229-9036 or click here to register online.

Economic Development

The Texas Water Development Board awarded San Antonio Water System a $205,000 grant to test a particular technology to turn brackish groundwater into high-quality drinking water. This filtration method is expected to reduce the volume of waste products, and thus lower costs, in the desalination process. SAWS' desalination project should be online by 2010.

State Sens. Kevin Eltife of Tyler and Rodney Ellis of Houston have filed SB 1979 to allow the Texas Enterprise Fund to be used to help retain or expand manufacturing jobs in the state. Currently, the fund is used only to attract new jobs and companies into Texas, but not to keep them from going elsewhere.

After losing former executive director Blake Hastings to the Federal Reserve Bank, the Free Trade Alliance San Antonio announced last week the selection of two newly created leadership positions.  Kyle Burns will become President and CEO, and Sarah S. Sanchez will be promoted to Vice President.

San Antonio Express-News columnist Carlos Guerra wants to form a 'Lesser San Antonio Chamber of Commerce' to spread lies and unkind truths about the city in an attempt to limit newcomers. The surprise? It's only partly tongue in cheek. He's worried about unbridled growth. Read more

The Lockhart Kiwanis Club has been forced to suspend a more-than-40-year-old tradition - a rodeo at the J.C. Schneider Arena on FM 20 - because of wear-and-tear on the arena and a lack of funds to replace bleachers. They lease the facility from the State, which wanted $30,000 worth of repairs before okaying this year's event, more than the club could afford. Details

Texas State University and the San Marcos Center for Latin American Commerce will sponsor a forum entitled ‘Business Growth in the Global Economy’ along with San Marcos Economic Development on beginning May 22 at Texas State University.  Parking is free in the Woods St. garage. Admission is free.  RSVP to 512-393-3400.  Details

Thought for the week:

“Ability may take you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."    -- John Wooden

Internal

Let us know at council@thecorridor.org if you find a bad link or have ideas for additional links or format changes.

The Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, 2 p.m. on April 18 at the Corridor Council offices located at 304 N. CM Allen Parkway in San Marcos.  Please RSVP to Ann Rogers if you plan to attend.

The Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail Board District meeting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on May 4 at the San Marcos Activity Center located at 501 E. Hopkins in San Marcos. 

Infrastructure

A "Roll-Out" press conference tomorrow with Mayor Phil Hardberger and Judge Nelson Wolff (Bexar County) will introduce a new San Antonio-Mexico strategic marketing plan, designed to increase commerce and air travel with Mexico through efforts that build upon existing ties. View the plan

State and local officials are planning some grade-crossing improvements in New Braunfels along the Union Pacific rail route, and here's a story that offers some details on the kinds of issues that arise from having 34 trains a day moving through your city. Details

NASCO (North America’s SuperCorridor Coalition) hosts 'Moving North America Forward' May 30-June 1 in Ft. Worth. More than 350 transportation, logistics and economic development specialists from Mexico, the United States and Canada are expected to discuss trade and transportation issues.  For more details: www.nascocorridor.com or call Rachel Connell at 214-744-1006.

Unusual political pairings: Even after an extremely hard-fought mayoral battle several years ago, with each airing tough TV commercials against the other, San Antonio mayor Phil Hardberger and former challenger Julian Castro are making nice once again. Castro is even co-chairing a fundraiser for Hardberger. Details

Patience And The Federal Transit Administration - A Cautionary Tale: It’s taken 80 years, but MTA New York City Transit started construction last week on the Second Avenue Subway project with (finally) help from the FTA. The agency broke ground on the project’s $3.8 billion first phase, operational by 2013.

Wow. Andres Duany, the New Urbanist guru, gave an interview to the Austin Chronicle last week that demonstrates why he's known as an iconoclast: He ridiculed the city's new Marriott deal ("you don't have to go on every date") blasted the Planned Unit Development ordinance, and said the city is not yet ready for a downtown circulator. Read more

Please mark your calendars for the Inaugural Board Mixer for the Boards of Directors of Envision Central Texas & the Real Estate Council of Austin on April 30, 5:00-6:30 p.m. RSVP to info@recaonline.com (512) 320-4151 if you can attend.

The San Antonio Free Trade Alliance is sponsoring its 8th Congressional Free Trade Forum Luncheon on May 31 at the University of the Incarnate Word, Sky Room.  Discussion topics will include immigration reform, San Antonio as a designated port of entry, implementation of cross-border trucking pilot program and free trade agreements with Latin America and Asia. For more information please call (210) 229-9036 or click here to register online.

Economic Development

The Texas Water Development Board awarded San Antonio Water System a $205,000 grant to test a particular technology to turn brackish groundwater into high-quality drinking water. This filtration method is expected to reduce the volume of waste products, and thus lower costs, in the desalination process. SAWS' desalination project should be online by 2010.

State Sens. Kevin Eltife of Tyler and Rodney Ellis of Houston have filed SB 1979 to allow the Texas Enterprise Fund to be used to help retain or expand manufacturing jobs in the state. Currently, the fund is used only to attract new jobs and companies into Texas, but not to keep them from going elsewhere.

After losing former executive director Blake Hastings to the Federal Reserve Bank, the Free Trade Alliance San Antonio announced last week the selection of two newly created leadership positions.  Kyle Burns will become President and CEO, and Sarah S. Sanchez will be promoted to Vice President.

San Antonio Express-News columnist Carlos Guerra wants to form a 'Lesser San Antonio Chamber of Commerce' to spread lies and unkind truths about the city in an attempt to limit newcomers. The surprise? It's only partly tongue in cheek. He's worried about unbridled growth. Read more

The Lockhart Kiwanis Club has been forced to suspend a more-than-40-year-old tradition - a rodeo at the J.C. Schneider Arena on FM 20 - because of wear-and-tear on the arena and a lack of funds to replace bleachers. They lease the facility from the State, which wanted $30,000 worth of repairs before okaying this year's event, more than the club could afford. Details

Texas State University and the San Marcos Center for Latin American Commerce will sponsor a forum entitled ‘Business Growth in the Global Economy’ along with San Marcos Economic Development on beginning May 22 at Texas State University.  Parking is free in the Woods St. garage. Admission is free.  RSVP to 512-393-3400.  Details

Thought for the week:

“Ability may take you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there."    -- John Wooden