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Texas cities thank you for not smokingMore municipalities adopt bans against lighting up in publicTexas smokers who need an incentive to kick the habit need to look no further than their local city councils, who are passing increasingly stringent anti-smoking ordinances in extraordinary numbers. This week alone, the cities of Houston, Arlington, Portland and League City debated ordinances that would prohibit smoking in restaurants, bars and workplaces. 
A University of Houston database has documented anti-smoking measures in 240 municipalities, and many of those, like Houston, are revisiting the issue to strengthen and expand no-smoking areas. With the recent release of the U. S. Surgeon General's report detailing the health hazards of second-hand smoke, non-smoking ordinances have become "more restrictive over the years," according to Phyllis Gingiss (pictured, right), professor of public health education in the UH department of health and human performance. "The emphasis for restaurants and businesses used to be just on ventilation, but since it has been established that there is no risk-free level of exposure to second-hand smoke, the trend is to become a completely smoke-free public place," said Gingiss. 
In Houston, a city ordinance has prohibited smoking in some workplaces, including restaurants, for about a year. It allows smoking in stand-alone bars and at bars within restaurants as long as smoke does not drift into the dining area. At the urging of Mayor Bill White (pictured, right), the City Council is considering strengthening the law to cover all workplaces, including stand-alone bars. While restaurant and bar owners have complained about the ordinances hurting their businesses, Houston city council members this week heard the report of an independent consultant who studied the economic impact of Houston's current ordinance and concluded it had no effect on the sales of restaurants, including those with bars inside. In Arlington, the City Council this week gave initial approval to a tougher smoking ordinance banning lighting up in restaurant and hotel bars and eliminating designated smoking areas in restaurants. The new ordinance would also establish 50-foot smoke-free zones outside entrances or windows that open at nonsmoking facilities and prohibit smoking in administrative areas of public buildings, such as offices in libraries and hospitals. Portland and League City officials this week also began drafting no-smoking ordinances. TxDOT unveils Trans-Texas plansThe master plan developed by Cintra-Zachry for the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor was made public this week. Known as TTC-35, the proposed massive new highway envisions a parallel alternative toll road to I-35 funded by the private sector. The plans cannot go forward without approval by the Federal Highway Administration, which will address comments and input gathered at 54 public hearings along the I-35 corridor. The plan had become fodder in the gubernatorial campaign when the Texas Department of Transportation initially declined to release the documents, saying they contained proprietary information. Attorney General Greg Abbott ordered that the plan be made public.To view the 1,600-page master plan, click here. Aggies moving to the Alamo city
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, reiterating its commitment to establishing a campus in San Antonio, last week began formal negotiations with the City of San Antonio over a location in the southern part of the city. "We expect to achieve the required student enrollment of 1,500 full-time students and be ready to open the Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus in fall 2009," said Board Chairman John D. White. "The next step is to work with city officials to identify the best location for the 400-acre campus." The Texas Legislature approved the creation of Texas A&M University-San Antonio in 2003 and earlier this year authorized $40 million in tuition revenue bonds for development of the new campus, which is expected to eventually serve about 25,000 students. UTHSC and UNAM unite; Cigarroa honored
The University of Texas Health Science Center has inked a three-year contract with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, a major medical school in Mexico. Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, president of the health science center, said the agreement paves the way for unified efforts in research, student exchange programs, faculty exchanges, workshops and the sharing of medical reference information. Also this week, Cigarroa was was inducted Wednesday night for honorary membership in the National Academy of Medicine in Mexico. He is one of five doctors that were installed as honorary members Wednesday at the headquarters of the Mexican Social Security Institute, the federal organization working on public health, pensions and social security in Mexico. Texas medical schools rank high in NIH fundingThe National Institutes of Health reported recently that seven Texas medical schools rank high among the top institutions receiving research funding from the NIH, the primary source for medical research money in the United States. They were:
TBPC support functions rolled under Arellano
Luis Arellano, who has served as TBPC’s Chief Financial Officer for four years, has been given the additional responsibilities of overseeing the agency’s internal procurement function, its Quick Copy Center that services 64 agencies and its Mail Messenger Services which meters over 6.6 million pieces of mail a year and services 126 agencies. The changes were effective September 1st. Arellano earned a BBA from UT where he received the George Kozmetzky Presidential Scholarship. He also graduated from the Texas Fiscal Officers’ Academy and the Governor’s Management Development Program. Prior to joining TBPC, Arellano served as Budget Director for TWCC. He has also held other financial positions at TDI, the Department of Agriculture and the Texas Historical Commission. Arellano is a US Navy veteran. TBPC gets new facilities chief
The Texas Building and Procurement Commission has hired David G. Barker as deputy executive director for facilities. Barker's responsibilities will include management and oversight of statewide facility construction, maintenance and leasing operations. He also will oversee several program areas, including custodial operations, grounds and warehouse management. A graduate of Texas A&M, Barker has extensive engineering, construction, project management, quality assurance, operations, maintenance and business operations experience. He most recently worked for Dril-Quip Manufacturing as the Manager of Manufacturing. He previously retired from CenterPoint Energy having served as president, CenterPoint Energy Management Services. HHSC teams up with area food banks
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will invest $475,000 to reach needy Texans who turn to food banks for assistance. The HHSC initiative will allow the volunteers at Texas food banks to make sure their clients are aware of state programs that may help their families, including food stamps, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. Volunteers will receive training and materials on these state programs so that they can help guide families to appropriate programs, explain the program requirements and tell people how to complete the application process. "We know that low-income Texans often turn to local charities when their families are in need," said Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Albert Hawkins. "This new effort reaches out to Texans where they are first seeking help to make them aware of state programs that can provide much-needed assistance for their families." The Texas Food Bank Network provides emergency food services for two million people each year. Under the new contract with HHSC, the network will hire outreach liaisons for food banks in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Laredo, Lubbock, San Antonio and Tyler. National Science Foundation grant benefits Waco
The National Center for Optics and Photonics Education, a cutting edge technological training center, will be coming to Waco due to a National Science Foundation grant of $5 million. The grant will enable the Center for Occupational Research and Development to combine resources with nine colleges including Texas State Technical College (TSTC) and Baylor University. "Part of the mission of TSTC is to offer emerging technologies," Elton Stuckly Jr., president of TSTC, said. The center is expected to open by the end of this year or the beginning of 2007. UT names a new dean of undergrad studies
The University of Texas at Austin has named Paul Woodruff, former director of the Plan II honors program, as the dean of undergraduate studies. In his new position, Woodruff will ensure the quality of undergraduate education and implement a revised core curriculum. University of Texas at Austin president William Powers, Jr., said, "the new core curriculum needs a leader and Paul's reputation makes him the consummate choice." TRCC produces new publicationThe Texas Residential Construction Commission will produce a new quarterly publication, "On the Level," to provide up to date information about operations, inspections, complaints, builder registrations and enforcement actions. Duane Waddill, Executive Director of TRCC, said the publication will include some of the most requested data about the commission. Christiansen named finalist
Dr. Dennis L. Christiansen was unanimously selected as the finalist for the director position at the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) by the Texas A&M Board of Regents. Christiansen, the current deputy director of TTI, will be replacing the current director, Herbert H. Richardson, who served the A&M system for the past 22 years. Christiansen began his career at TTI in 1972 as an assistant researcher and has held several other positions including his most recent as agency deputy director. Upon approval, Christiansen will become the fourth director of TTI since the 1950s. THECB names 8 Star Award finalistsThe Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board picked 8 out of 52 applicants as finalists for the sixth annual Texas Higher Education Star Award. The Star Award recognizes the best efforts by educators to close the state's challenging educational gaps. The finalists are Amarillo College for its Disability Services Program, Austin Community College for its College Connection Program, Stephen F. Austin University for its Academic Assistance and Resource Center, Tarrant County College for its SureStart Program, the University at Brownsville for its Office of Pre-Medical Education Programs, The University of Texas at El Paso for its Chemistry Peer Leader Program and the University of North Texas' Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Recruiting and Retention Program. New Dean and CEO appointed to TAMU-QatarMark Weichold was appointed as chief executive officer and dean of Texas A&M University at Qatar, the Texas A&M branch in the Persian Gulf. TAMU president Robert M. Gates said that Weichold, who has served in many faculty and administrative positions in his 25-year career with A&M, played an instrumental role in the negotiations and agreements that enabled the TAMU-Qatar campus to become a reality. More technology advancements headed to TexasSeveral high-profile technology projects in Texas were announced this week, including the University of Texas receiving a $59 million National Science Foundation grant to build one of the world's most powerful supercomputers. UT is teaming with Cornell University and Arizona State University on the computer, which will have a peak computing power of more than 400 trillion operations per second. Gov. Rick Perry this week announced that the National Science Foundation and the Semiconductor Research Corporation will fund a prestigious nanoelectronics research center in Texas, the third of its kind in the nation. The Southwest Academy of Nanotechnology (SWAN) will be located at the University of Texas at Austin, and operate under the direction of Dr. Sanjay Banerjee. Perry also announced a new Nanotechnology Research Initiative (NRI) in Texas, a $30 million public-private partnership made possible by a $10 million grant from the Emerging Technology Fund, $10 million from the University of Texas System and the remainder from private industry. The Texas Emerging Technology Fund, a $200 million tool dedicated to improving research at Texas universities, helps start-up technology firms get off the ground sooner, and speeds the process of moving new inventions out of the lab and into the hands of consumers. The National Science Foundation estimates that there will be 2 million new jobs created by 2015 in nanotechnology. Health Science Center talks postponed
The Texas A&M University System regents last week failed to reach a consensus on the site of the university's future Health Science Center. Regent Earl Nye, the chairman of the regents' buildings and physical plant committee, called a proposal by the City of Bryan "impressive" but said the board needed more time to consider the best location for the university community. Evenson named interim UNT dean
The University of North Texas has named Dr. Thomas L. Evenson as the new interim dean of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service. Evenson will replace Dr. David J. Hartman, who held the position for the past 14 years. Howard Johnson, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, said "Dr. Evenson's previous experience and desire to serve will be an asset to the college." Evenson will begin serving as dean on Oct. 1. Highland Park ISD studies school crowdingDallas' Highland Park Independent School District officials are examining possible solutions to overcrowding, including changing school boundary lines, adding more portable classrooms, and building additions to existing schools. School board members have reviewed the draft of a capacity study which outlines the need for more space, since the district's schools are operating at more than 90 percent capacity. The Highland Park Town Council approved portable buildings in 1998, with the current contract due to expire in July 2008. District officials maintain that they need portables because they haven't had the financial resources to build additions. Highland Park sends more than two-thirds of its property tax revenue to other districts classified as property-poor. Pollution under study at wetlands lab
The Baylor Experimental Aquatic Research (BEAR) facility, an outdoor laboratory designed to help scientists understand how pollution moves through Texas streams, was formally opened recently at the Lake Waco Wetlands. Baylor University scientists and city of Waco water officials collaborated on the BEAR project, hoping to shed light on the chronic water quality issues in the North Bosque River and Lake Waco, said Waco mayor Virginia DuPuy (pictured). The 20,000-square-foot facility, which pumps water from the Lake Waco Wetlands into a dozen 60-foot streams, will allow Baylor biologists and environmental scientists to simulate different pollution conditions simultaneously. Phosporous concentrations, thought to spur algae growth in the North Bosque , will be one area of study. That data will beused to refine government pollution thresholds in the North Bosque and elsewhere, said Bryan Brooks, an environmental scientist with Baylor's Center for Reservoir and Aquatics Systems Research. The $200,000 project is a joint effort of the Altria Group Inc., Baylor University and the city of Waco, which provided in-kind construction services. The city built the 180-acre wetlands about six years ago in partnership with Baylor and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to create wildlife habitat and improve Lake Waco water quality. Houston gets $10 million to fight area crimeGov. Rick Perry this week committed $10 million to establish a Joint Operations and Intelligence Center (JOIC) to fight crime in Harris County and surrounding areas. The $10 million in state criminal justice funds will be used to establish new command and control capabilities, to leverage new technology and provide additional law enforcement tools, and to put more officers on the ground in the fight against crime.The project involves establishing computer-assisted intelligence sharing abilities, allowing law enforcement agencies to do a "Google"-like searches for information on criminal activity. The JOIC will be patterned after successful collaborations by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies along the border. Those operations have resulted in reduction in violent crime by as much as 70 percent in some communities. DISD grant spending spikes at end of school yearGrant money spent by Dallas Independent School District employees significantly increases at the end of the schools year, apparently as school officials try to avoid a district-imposed spending freeze, according to a Dallas Morning News report. In April, grant spending on district credit cards hit $1.5 million, four times the average of the other months. For example, one school principal spent more than $3,000 on the last day before the district's deadline on grant spending, all on items not included in the grant's budget. Another program made fully one-third of its grant expenditures in April. But Earin Martin, chief grant administrator for the Texas Education Agency, said only purchases that are necessary and essential for the completion of the program are allowable under state and federal rules. Record annual sales for Texas Lottery
Texas Lottery Director Anthony Sadberry reported record lottery sales this fiscal year. Lottery sales hit nearly $3.8 billion, resulting in a $1 billion contribution to the Foundation School Fund, which supports public education. The previous sales record was $3.7 billion in the 1997 fiscal year. Greenville eyes early retirement incentivesGreenville Mayor Tom Oliver, along with the city's finance/audit committee, has proposed a plan to offer city employees financial incentives to retire, with the goal of reducing the city's workforce by 50 positions. The full council is scheduled to vote on the proposition this week. Oliver believes the plan could eventually save the city $2.5 million in operating costs while maintaining the same level of services. Reorganization, increased use of technology or other means could reduce the need to replace departing employees. Should the plan pass, city departments expected to experience the most attrition are the police and fire departments, as their employees have the longest tenure with the city. Lubbock freeway project pumps up economyLubbock's $600 million Marsha Sharp Freeway project will generate more than three times that amount in the Lubbock economy, or about $2 billion, according to estimates by the Texas Department of Transportation. That estimate is based on how the construction costs will eventually filter through the local economy. According to the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, the construction industry has become one of the largest areas of employment growth, increasing by 15.1 percent throughout the last five years. Terri Patterson, the director of work force development for LEDA, said 753 construction jobs have been created in Lubbock since 2001. Brazoria enacts emergency phone alertsThe Brazoria City Council has adopted a new phone alert system to notify residents in cases of emergencies and other important news, such as pending utility service suspension. Public Works Director David Jordan said the phone service would be used frequently to communicate with citizens, not just in emergencies. For instance, Jordan said the automated phone calls could remind people who have not paid their utilities bills on time that they face service suspension. That would curtail the number of hours utility workers spend turning on and off the services of delinquent customers. City Secretary Teresa Border said the three-year contract will cost the city about $2,100 annually. After last year's Hurricane Rita evacuation, council members wanted to have an emergency response system to notify residents of possible dangers, so they asked the telephone company if it could set up such a phone system, Jordan said. Local issues fill out November ballotBesides making important decisions in the Governor's race and other important elections, Texas voters will be deciding a plethora of local questions on Nov.7. Among the local decisions voters will make in the North Texas area will be:
Nueces County gets $2.5 million grant
U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, announced recently that Nueces County would receive a $2.5 million grant to continue infrastructure work at the new county fairgrounds complex near Robstown. Ortiz said the new complex, which is scheduled for completion in December, will indirectly create more than 200 jobs in the Robstown area and will generate nearly $150,000 a year in additional tax revenues for Nueces County. Brenham gets new finance directorThe city of Brenham has hired Carolyn Miller as its finance director, replacing Carolyn Baker, who is resigning to become city manager of Broken Bow, Okla. Baker served as Brenham's finance director for three years. City Manager Terry Roberts said Miller has been serving as finance reporting accountant for the city for the past 18 months. Miller, an accounting graduate of Texas A&M University, is a CPA. In addition, Ann Finley, who has been serving as budget officer, has been named to the position of assistant director of finance. Finley joined the city about 1 1/2 years ago after serving as budget director for the City of Bryan. Ingleside names manager finalistGus H. Pappas, city manager in Ferris, has been named a finalist for city manager of Ingleside. In making the announcement, Ingleside Mayor Elaine W. Kemp cited Pappas' 20-plus years of experience and his ability to bring cities out of financial hurt. Pappas has been the city manager in Ferris, a town of 2,300 near Dallas, since April 2005. City manager hired in CorinthCorinth City officials have hired Clovia English, Lockhart's longtime city manager, to take over the Corinth's day-to-day business beginning Nov. 6. English, a Dallas native, accepted the position this week and announced her resignation in Lockhart. English would be the first person to sit permanently in the seat since the council declined to renew Ken Seale's contract in 2004. Missouri City targets rundown rentalsMissouri City officials have adopted new requirements that landlords register rental properties and keep them properly maintained or face fines. Landlords have until Feb. 1 to obtain a permit for rental property, which will require them to allow periodic inspection by the city for safety and compliance with various government building and zoning regulations. Property owners would be charged with a misdemeanor if problems are not corrected within the certain period of time, and fined up to $500 if convicted in municipal court. City officials began mulling regulating rental properties as resident complaints about unkempt properties mounted. They also reported difficulty in locating many landlords to get them to fix up rental properties with city code violations. 
Lens on Texas: Handy Links
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Public Servants Rarely Find Simple Solutions!
By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. It's never easy for individuals in decision-making roles in government. Here's one more example of the type of tough dilemma that public servants face on a regular basis. The natural gas drilling boom in North Texas has produced a huge windfall for local governments fortunate enough to be sitting on top of the geological formation known as the Barnett Shale. A number of cities are benefiting not only from the increased economic activity prompted by new drilling, but from millions of dollars in royalty revenues that will ease the local tax burden. For city officials, those potential profits come with a burden, one that occurs often in public service. It is their responsibility to balance economic development with aesthetics and the increased income with public safety. Our lead story, about anti-smoking ordinances, is another area where public officials have to weigh economic interests with health and safety concerns. As a former member of the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Railroad Commission, I'm well acquainted with the types of difficult choices public servants often face. In Fort Worth, city officials were told recently they could expect an additional $750 million over the next 20 years. What a windfall to have such revenues flowing to the city treasury from gas royalty payments, all because approximately 500 wells are located within the city limits! The Irving Independent School District will benefit also from a decision to lease mineral rights of its property for royalty payments. And this summer, officials at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport approved a bid to drill for oil and natural gas on airport property. Cities and counties are looking for much needed revenues in numerous ways. Possible additions to that list are the cities of Dallas and Flower Mound, though the prospect of drilling in both locations has been met with opposition from local residents who fear the risks and possible increase in pollution outweigh the economic benefits. In Flower Mound, some residents were hoping their town would loosen its strict ordinances - which forbid drilling within 1,000 feet of a house - to allow gas production within the city. So far, opponents have kept that from occurring. Meanwhile, in Dallas, the city council's economic development committee will soon hear a proposal to lease mineral rights on the Trinity River levees, at Dallas Executive Airport and at Kiest Park. Proponents believe that city officials have a duty to Dallas citizens to explore whether gas production can proceed safely to augment city revenues. While City Manager Mary Suhm called several of the locations being considered "problematic," she added that she felt "a responsibility to explore all the revenue sources for the city of Dallas" and to proceed "cautiously." Caution is the appropriate word. What's right for one city may be the wrong decision for another. Public servants find themselves walking a thin tightrope on issues like this and there are no guidelines. The gas drilling boom, coming at a time when new technology has made suburban gas wells more attractive, offers tantalizing opportunities for city officials who want to expand their economic base and take advantage of available natural resources in a positive way. On the other hand, environmentalists, employers and home owners worried about the area's aesthetics, safety and air quality raise serious questions that cannot be overlooked. It's a tightrope, but with caution, city officials in the North Texas area will, no doubt, be able to maintain their balance. For the rest of the state, this will be an interesting issue to watch. SPI expands research staffStrategic Partnerships Inc. has added two experienced consultants who will improve SPI's research capabilities for its clients. Joining the SPI team are Gloria A. Hunt and Jamee Yule. Hunt has over 20 years management experience in a variety of public service programs at the state and local level. She previously served as deputy director of contract operations at the Texas Office of the Attorney General, and as assistant director of the Health Maintenance Organization division at the Texas Department of Insurance. Jamee Yule, a Texas State University adjunct professor in management, previously worked at the Texas Department of Human Services as a program specialist involved in multiple large projects. Her experience ranges from accounting to legislative analysis. She was also a budget analyst for the department. Brownsville railroad tracks to moveThe Texas Department of Transportation this week approved $13 million to move railroad tracks out of downtown Brownsville. The tracks will be rerouted six miles west, where trains will use a new, railroad-only bridge that will cross into Mexico at a location next to a local country club. Cameron County officials will seek assistance from Mexico for construction of the new bridge, since state law allows payment of only half the costs of an international bridge. Midland gets new superintendent
Sylvester Perez, currently superintendent at San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District, has been selected as finalist by the Midland school board to replace retiring superintendent Robert Nicks. Trustees will now start contract negotiations with Perez, who has 33 years experience in Texas public schools. Perez, who began his career as a teacher and a coach, has risen through the administrative ranks to superintendent, serving in that position in Mathis ISD, Clint ISD in the El Paso area before coming to San Marcos. During his tenure at San Marcos, voters, who had previously rejected school bond proposals, approved a $122.7 million bond issue. Perez was named as Region 13 Superintendent of the Year and is in the running for the state honor. Dewey on the road to retirementJohn Dewey, city attorney of Lake Jackson, is retiring after 33 years of service. His tenure as city attorney spanned the service of 10 different Lake Jackson mayors. Montoya leaving Austin school board
Austin school board vice president Rudy Montoya Jr. announced he will resign after 10 years of board service to spend more time with his family and to concentrate on a new job in the information technology division of the state attorney general's office. His resignation will be effective Nov. 13. Rodriguez gets National Guard promotionGov. Rick Perry recently announced he promotion of the Adjutant General of Texas, Major General Charles G. Rodriguez, to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Texas Army National Guard. Lieutenant General Rodriguez is the second serving Adjutant General of Texas to be designated to this rank by a Governor of Texas. Governor Rick Perry has made the following appointments:
Part-time job opportunities available at SPI: Alvin Community College President recognized
Alvin Community College President Rodney Allbright was inducted Sept. 14 into the Brazoria County Business Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to Brazoria County's business and community accomplishments. Hosted by Junior Achievement of Brazoria County, Inc., the Business Hall of Fame has been honoring the county's most esteemed humanitarian and business leaders for the past seven years. Allbright, who at 32 became the youngest community college president in the U.S., has served in that capacity at Alvin Community College for 30 years. The institution has 4,000 credit students and 8,000 continuing education students each year. Sunset suggests scrapping ORCAThe Sunset commission staff has recommended turning over the functions of the Office of Rural and Community Affairs to the Department of Agriculture. A report released recently recommended abolishing ORCA, saying the Department of Agriculture is best suited for determining the needs of rural Texas. New job classifications proposedThe State Classification Office, an arm of the State Auditor's Office, each year makes recommendations for changes to the state's job classification system. Their latest report, issued this week, suggests new job classifications and changes to existing job classifications and the fiscal impact of those changes. The link to the new report is listed below. Recent Reports
Event Links
Texas Government Insider ArchivesVolume 1, 2, 3 and 4 Archives - 11/7/03 - 9/29/06 Resources
Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) is a research and consulting firm offering business development and public affairs services. |
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Legislative Conference at UT approachingAn Oct. 10 Legislative Conference at the LBJ School of Public Affairs will feature speeches by State Sen. Steve Ogden, State Rep. Jim Pitts and former State Rep. Bruce Gibson. A link to the registrtion site is here. ATCU to hold annual meetingDavid Valladolid, President, Parent Institute for Quality Education, will kick off the Association of Texas Colleges and Universities' two-day annual meeting at the downtown Austin Hilton Sunday, Oct. 1, at 4 p.m. with a discussion of how partnerships underway in California bring schools, parents and communities together in educating minority student populations. Registration begins at 2 p.m. Sunday. Monday will feature a luncheon honoring State Sen. Judith Zaffirini. Excellence conference seeks presentersExcellence in Government 2007 will be held at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC April 4-5, 2007, and is currently accepting proposals from individuals who would like to make a presentation. If you have any questions on the submission process or your proposal, please contact Julie Truesdell at (202) 266-7176 or jtruesdell@govexec.com by Oct. 23. For registration questions, please contact Melissa Benowitz at (866) 332-5185 or benowitz@letsmeet.net. For information on sponsoring or exhibiting at this year's event contact Erika Donohue at (202) 266-7254 or edonohue@govexec.com. Expo 2006 to highlight HUB opportunitiesThe HUB advisory board will hold Expo 2006 at the George R. Brown Convention Center Oct. 11 and 12 to facilitate opportunities for historically-underutilized businesses seeking to do business with the Texas Department of Information Resources. Visit www.hmbc.org to register. Economic growth summit plannedGov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will be among the speakers for an economic development summit, "Harness the Lightning: An Economic Growth Summit for Texas," hosted by the Texas Lyceum Nov. 13-14 at the San Antonio Convention Center. David Spencer, chair of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund, is organizing the annual conference, which will focus on what the group calls the "three-legged stool of economic growth" - industrial relocation, business retention and company formation. For more information, and to register, click here. TML gearing up for annual conferenceMore than 4,000 municipal officials, spouses and exhibitors will be on hand for the 2006 Texas Municipal League (TML) Annual Conference slated for Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 25-27 at the Austin Convention Center. This year's theme is "Cities, Citizens: Partners for the Greater Good." Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has been invited to speak at Wednesday's Opening General Session, which will also feature the presentation of Municipal Excellence Awards to 10 Texas cities. The conference will also feature five half-day workshops, which are separately ticketed events, planned on Wednesday before the conference officially opens. Other keynote addresses on Thursday and Friday will be presented by such nationally known speakers as Steve Gilliland, Bryan Dodge, Howard Prince, James Hunt, Dorothy Burton, John Alston, and Trudy Bourgeois. Educational sessions are scheduled to cover a number of timely, city-related topics, like ethics, grassroots advocacy, effective communication, leadership principles, technology resources, and strategic planning. TML is a voluntary association of more than 1,080 Texas cities. To learn more about the League and to register for the conference online, click here. Homeland Security conference registration underwayThe Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) will sponsor the Texas Homeland Security Conference 2006 Nov. 27 - Dec. 1 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. Early registration (through Oct. 30) is $70, and later is $85. For more information, click here.
Bioenergy conference slated for LubbockThe BioEnergy Texas - Conference 2006, which will be held in Lubbock, Oct. 24-26 at the United Spirit Arena, provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and information about renewable energy, with an emphasis on policy and finance. The conference is focused on leveraging the assets of Texas in the agriculture, energy and biotechnology industries to a state, national and international audience. Registration fees cover conference sessions, breakfasts, luncheons, breaks, materials, and evening receptions. Participants wishing to register prior to the conference must register by October 1, 2006. To register, click here.
Woods to speak at DOE conferenceThe U.S. Departments of Energy and Agriculture have announced an impressive list of speakers for the upcoming conference, "Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance," to be held in St. Louis on October 10-12, 2006. Included on the list is Texan Pat Wood III--Chairman, North American Advisory Board, Airtricity, Inc. and former Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Texas Public Utility Commission. Attendees and press can register online at www.AdvancingRenewableEnergy.gov.
Cornyn to speak at Texas Leadership ForumThe John Ben Shepperd (JBS) Public Leadership Institute announced that Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn will speak during their Texas Leadership Forum. The Outstanding Texas Leader award will be presented to Houston Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Robert Eckels for their leadership in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. To register, contact event coordinator Linda proctor at proctor_l@utpb.edu. Council on Competitive Government meets soonThe State Council on Competitive Government will meet Oct. 13, 10 a.m. in the Capitol Extension, Room E.026 to discuss various requests for proposals, including for digital imaging services. The agenda also calls for a discussion of the human resources consolidation/outsourcing project. |
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