Monday Morning Report
|
Executive Committee Members Please Note: Instead of the regularly scheduled Corridor Council Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 18, we will instead be co-sponsoring the 'Rebuild America Luncheon' with the San Antonio Mobility Coalition that day. Executive Committee members who would like to attend should email jeffwebb@thecorridor.org or call (512) 558-7360.
The luncheon begins at 11:30a.m. – 1:30p.m., Anne Maries @ Devonshire Place, 12475 Starcrest in San Antonio. Details here
At last Friday's quarterly meeting of the Austin-San Antonio Commuter Rail District Board (6/6) the Board approved joint funding with TxDOT of a roughly $300,000 Phase Three freight rail study of The Corridor, approved a Request For Proposals for branding services (picking a replacement name for the agency, which one staffer called "a mouthful"),got an update on Amtrak and Union Pacific negotiations, and heard about a continuing statewide effort to influence Legislative action on financing the Texas Railroad Relocation And Improvement Fund. There was also discussion of the $40 million funding stream developed for fiscal years 2009-2012 and a funding strategy tied to the 2009-10 reauthorization of the Federal transportation bill.
Notice of Request for Proposals (RFP): The Austin-San Antonio Intermunicipal Commuter Rail District (Rail District) is seeking proposals from professional firms to provide the Rail District with branding services to establish the Rail District’s identity and communicate its purpose and function. The RFP will be available on the Rail District website (www.asarail.org) beginning June 11. Responses to the RFP must be received by the Rail District no later than 3:00 p.m. on July 23, 2008 to be considered.
Infrastructure
15 Hill Country counties have formed a coalition aimed at convincing the Legislature to give their officials more control over local development. The Hill Country Coalition of Counties' members hope that presenting a united front will erode the Legislature's resistance to expanding the statutory authority of counties over rapid growth, water availability, traffic, drainage, and the environment. Many Corridor counties have signed on. Details from the San Antonio Express News here.
'Conflict of Interest,' a locally-produced feature film, began shooting in Lockhart and Caldwell County last week, the latest of more than 30 films shot in the area. “Lockhart has been just great to work with,” the film's production manager told the Post-Register. “Sandra Mauldin and others at the city have been incredible in helping us find the right locations and get in touch with the right people.” Details.
New Braunfels begins the process this week towards issuing $14.3 million in debt to finance a series of public works and infrastructure investments. Projects under study include widening Walnut Avenue, new public works and fire training facilities, and other local road improvements. Details.
Hays County businessman and former Corridor Council Executive Committee-member Chuck Nash is seeking a position on the Pedernales Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. Voting by mail or online ends June 13. Details here.
Hutto Mayor Ken Love was admitted to St. David's Hospital in Austin last week after suffering a mild heart attack May 28. "It's my understanding that the mayor is doing well and continuing his recovery," Mayor Pro-tem Debbie Holland told the Round Rock Leader.
Economic Development
Only 26% of CEOs of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies reported a positive outlook on the American economy according to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Trendsetter Barometer survey. The number of CEOs with a positive outlook on the economy also slumped 59% over the last year. Nearly 75% of surveyed CEOs said they are uncertain or pessimistic about the U.S. economy over the next 12 months, up three points from the last quarter.
Worldwide sales of semiconductors totaled $21.2 billion in April; a 5.9% boost over the year-ago period’s $20.1 billion, according to San Jose, Calif. -based Semiconductor Industry Association. Year-to-date sales of $82.9 billion are 4.3% higher than the first four months of 2007 when sales were $79.5 billion.
Air travelers, tired of inefficient security screening, flight cancellations and delays, avoided some 41 million trips over the past year and that has cost the national economy $26 billion, a survey from the Travel Industry Association reveals.
Shannon Mattingly was hired to head the city of New Braunfels planning department. Mattingly currently is working as the director of planning and regional services for the Central Texas Council of Governments and previously served as city manager and planning director in Leander.
Kyle has confirmed that Target, Kohl’s and a City Lights Theatre will anchor the 1 million-sq ft Kyle Crossing retail center. Construction should begin next month with completion slated for spring 2009.
"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
- Napoleon Bonaparte