Governmental Affairs Council

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: Matt Diana, Covenant Services, LLC; Scheduled Meetings: 12:00 Noon on the 2nd Thursday of every month.

Additional Members: Glen Boehm - Keller Williams Realty, The Boehm Team; Shawn Bonner - Hungry Horse Restaurant; Beth Coyle - Coyle Engineering; Mike De Leeuw - Mike De Leeuw Architect; John Gonzalez - JDG Associates, Inc.; Bob Imler; Grady Jolley - Nunley Jolley Cluck & Aelvoet, LLC; Linda Kohler - Frost Bank; Mike Luckey; Dan Rogers, Kendall County EDC, Dub Smothers; Paula White & 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 Goverments (AACOG) website link, 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 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, the 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.

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.

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 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 (will be available online on Thursday, December 18).

The reception and 2009 Legislative Plan is 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 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 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.

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.

Photograph of Matt Diana by Beth Coyle.

Governmental Affairs Council

Matt Diana, Member At Large

Owner, Covenant Services, LLC