The Chamber serves an advocate for business as outlined in the Chamber’s Mission Statement.
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: Mike Schultz of The Trust Company; Scheduled Meetings: 11:45 a.m. on the 1st Thursday of every month at the Kendall County Economic Development Corporation conference room.
Additional Member Susan Alllen, Texas Heritage Bank; Shawn Bonner - Hungry Horse Restaurant; Steve Bonner - SONRI, Inc., David Brown; Adalberto Camarillo - Poznecki-Camarillo, Inc.; Beth Coyle - Coyle Engineering; Bob Davis - Sage Capitol Mortgage; Harry Lees; Mike De Leeuw - Mike De Leeuw Architect; John Gonzalez - JDG Associates, Inc.; Jeff Haberstroy, Boerne City Council; Charles Hepler - Texas Thunder, LLC; ; Grady Jolley - Nunley Jolley Cluck & Aelvoet, LLC; Dan Rogers - Kendall County EDC, Mike Schultz of The Trust Company, MJ Slater, GVTC; Dub Smothers; Jeff Thompson, City of Boerne Utilities; Lynn Richter - Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce.
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.
Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) website link,
City of Boerne Council Meetings and Agendas website link,
City of Boerne Planning and Community Development website link,
Kendall County Commissioners Court website link,
Boerne Independent School District website link,
Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District link,
State of Texas Government website link,
Texas Chamber of Commerce Executive's website link,
Texas Association of Business website link,
VoteForBusiness website link, the Votexas.org website link,
US Chamber of Commerce website link and
Friends of the US Chamber website link.
Texas Voter Registration Applications (online or downloaded).
Kendall County Precinct map.
Kendall County Elections 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.
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.
Preparing for the 2011 Legislative Session
Vox Pop - Take the Chamber Survey now!
The Chamber sent out a very short survey to members asking for input in the development of the Chamber’s Legislative Plan for 2011. If you have already responded, thank you.
The Chamber is the voice of business in Kendall County and we want to be sure to include your concerns. If you have yet to reply, or if you didn’t receive the survey, click here.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
One of the responsibilities of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Council is to provide meaningful information to the membership relative to state, local and federal legislative topics while representing the membership to state, local and federal governments. As we hone our agenda for the 2011 legislative session in the State of Texas, we are looking to our members and our community for input. Read more.
Local Businesses Help “ready” workforce
Since February, in partnership with BISD and CISD, with Workforce Solutions and dozens of Chamber members in our service area, the Greater Boerne Chamber of Commerce conducted a pilot Workforce Readiness Initiative (WRI) program with students from Boerne, Champion and Comfort High Schools. The objective of the program is to help students learn “soft skills” that will help them secure employment. Read more.
Model Housing for our Community Workshop
The Government Affairs Council of the Boerne Chamber of Commerce hosted a workshop covering "Model Housing for our Community" on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at the Boerne Convention & Community Center. The workshop was free to the public. View agenda. There will be more imformation posted on the results of this event shortly
2009 LEGISLATIVE PLAN
After months of work on behalf of our Government Affairs Council, Board of Directors and staff members, hosted a Legislative Kickoff Reception on December 16, 2008 to introduce our Legislative Pan for 2009.
The Legislative Kickoff Reception was an excellent opportunity to meet and network with not only government officials, but business owners and executives from some of the largest employers in our region. View the Boerne Today video of the Plan's introduction at the reception by the Boerne Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Council Chairman Matt Diana.
The reception and 2009 Legislative Plan was Sponsored by Ye Kendall Inn, Limestone Grille, Marlin Atlantis & Texas Heritage Bank.
“LET'S CLEAR THE AIR (QUALITY)” SEMINAR
The Government Affairs Council hosted a free & open seminar on Air Quality. The seminar was held on Thursday, November 13, 2008 at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Boerne, 34935 IH-10 West, Boerne (map).
AACOG's Natural Resources Director Peter Bella and Clean Cities Coordinator Andrew Hudgins were the featured speakers and presenters along with City of Boerne Purchase Director Oliver Mueller & Paul Barwick (RUDAT).
AACOG furnished us with a copy of the slide presentation for Let's Clear the Air (Quality) for your review.
Another good AACOG resource to view is The Air Out There is the Air we Breathe. You may also read the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) news release on the Blue Skyways Collaborative.
SECOND WATER FORUM “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 1, 2007 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.
more on water....
WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT PROJECT...
The Government Affairs Council has continued to do the research and meet with authorities in regards to brush management and it's effects on water conservation. Please feel free to view the “Kendall Rainfall Partitioning Within Juniper (Cedar) Canopies“ presentation by M. Keith Owens, Robert K. Lyons, Chris Alejandro and Rose Cooper of Agrilife Research at Texas A&M System.
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.