Governmental Affairs Council

The Government Affairs Council was established in 2005 and is charged with three primary tasks:

1. Identify areas where more involvement in state and federal government could have a positive impact on Boerne.
2. Disseminate information on local, state, and federal government initiatives, legislation, and programs to the local business community.
3. Make the voice of local business heard, particularly by local City and County government leaders.

Chair: Matt Diana, Covenant Services, LLC; Scheduled Meetings: 2nd Thursday of every month.

Questions? Suggestions? Contact the Government Affairs Council by clicking here.

To help keep you better informed, we are providing you with local, state and federal website links for you to visit and review. Just click on the website link you wish to visit.

The City of Boerne Council Meetings and Agendas website link, the City of Boerne Planning and Community Development website link, the Kendall County Commissioners Court Calendar website link, the Boerne Independent School District website link, the Cow Creek Water District website link, the State of Texas Government website link, the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executive's website link, the Texas Association of Business website link, the VoteForBusiness website link, the Votexas.org website link, and the US Chamber of Commerce website link.

Issues that could influence Boerne businesses

Boerne business owners must learn all they can about factors that affect and shape the landscape in which we operate our businesses. Here are some issues currently under consideration in our area that you need to know more about.

GET OUT THE VOTE!

Now is The Time to Vote in the City of Boerne, BISD and Cow Creek Groundwater District Elections

The Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Council hosted a Candidate Forum featuring the Boerne City Council and Boerne ISD School Board of Trustees' candidates at the April 17th Forum at the Boerne Convention & Community Center.

The Government Affairs Council submitted 3 Pre-Forum Questions to all four Boerne City Council Candidates. The candidates were asked to answer each question in writing in 150 words or less. All four Candidates submitted their answers and are now available for your review. They were also provided 2 oral questions they responded to at the Forum.

The Audience at the Forum also submitted several written questions to the City Council candidates. These questions were sent to these candidates and incumbent Rob Ziegler is the only candidate that has responded. Please review the questions and his responses.

The City of Boerne will hold a General Election for 3 City Council positions.

ELECTION DAY – Saturday, May 10 at Fabra Elementary School (238 Lohmann St), 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

View the listing of this year's candidates.

BISD School Board Member Election:

ELECTION DAY (Saturday, May 10) POLL SITE:

FABRA Elementary Library, Johns Rd Entrance, Boerne, Texas

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

PCT. # 1 & PCT. # 2

Fair Oaks Ranch City Hall, 7286 Dietz-Elkhorn Rd, Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas

7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Electing Two (2) School Board Trustees

Place Six (6) for Three Years

Place Seven (7) for Three Years

View the listing of this year's candidates.

Cow Creek Groundwater District Election (Saturday, May 10)

7:00 am to 7:00 pm:

Precinct 1: Fabra Elementary School, 238 Lohmann St., Boerne

Precinct 3: Pleasant Valley Community Center, 48 Los Indios Ranch Road, Boerne, TX

and

Boerne Community Center, 820 Adler Street, Boerne, TX

Precinct 4: Comfort Volunteer Fire Department, 224 W. FM 47, Comfort, TX

Elect Directors in Single Member District 2 and Single Member District 3 and “Vote for and Against the increase of ad volarem tax to an amount not to exceed and ($.01) per one hundred ($100) of assessed valuation.

For information on important business issues, please click on the Vote For Business website link.

Continue to check the Chamber's website in the future, we will continue to update the information.

WHY KENDALL COUNTY NEEDS A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE PLAN (MTP)

It’s all about the infrastructure

Transportation and mobility is one of the greatest challenges facing our community. It is a complex issue because it encompasses emergency preparedness, economy, environment, sustainable housing, local control, tax burdens, and convenience. Each of these issues is complex on its own merit, but when put together it may seem insurmountable. The fact is that solutions are on the horizon. In November of 2005 Kendall County Commissioners created a “Thoroughfare Planning Citizens Committee” (TPCC).

The committee has completed their report and information can be found on this county website link. The GAC encourages the business community to educate itself about the issues associated with transportation and mobility, but even more important we encourage participation in the upcoming meetings so that we can move toward consensus and resolution of a thoroughfare plan that will allow the Master Plan to be realized.

With transportation mind, the Boerne Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Council hosted a Transportation Luncheon, Stuck in Traffic, on October 4th at the Boerne Convention and Community Center. Jeremy Martin, Vice President of Government Relations of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, and Michael Meeks, President and CEO of the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, were the featured speakers on Transportation and it's impact in their communities.

SECOND WATER FORUM VERY WELL ATTENDED

“Water You Looking At'' Relationships & Regionalization in Kendall County

The Government Affairs Council invited all Chamber members and the public to attend their second Water Forum held on Wednesday, August 1st at the Boerne Convention & Community Center. The Water Forum was attended by an audience of 120 Kendall & Bexar County business men, women, City of Boerne and Kendall County residents.

A survey was given to everyone in attendance to complete and turn in at the end of the forum. The Government Affairs Council has compiled the results of the surveys and out of the 45 surveys turned in, 41 responded they would like to see a Hill Country Regional Planning effort. Click on this link to review the survey results.

The Government Affairs Council has compiled it's first two lists of panelist answers to the audience questions submitted at the Forum. Please click here to review these answers. We hope to have the remaining answers listed in the near future to help provide everyone will a better understanding of the issues surrounding water availability and regionalization plans for the future for our area.

Please click here to read more on the Forum.

Governmental Affairs Council

Matt Diana

Owner, Covenant Services, LLC

Grady Jolley

Partner, Nunley Davis Jolley Cluck Aelvoet LLC

Beth Coyle

CEO, Coyle Engineering