Gov. Perry orders state agencies to conserve energy and expedite power plant permits

With electric bills around the state soaring, Gov. Rick Perry has issued an executive order that requires state agencies to implement energy conservation measures and expedite the permitting process for power plants. The order also called for a public education campaign, to be handled by the Public Utility Commission, to educate consumers about their choices for electricity in Texas' recently deregulated power market.

"There is no reason it should take more than six months for a state agency to resolve a permitting dispute concerning an electric generation facility," Perry said. "This executive order reduces red tape, increases conservation, and empowers consumers as they choose their electric provider. It's the right approach to rising prices."

The executive order directs state agencies to submit, by Dec. 1, energy conservation plans to the Governor's Office and the Legislative Budget Board. It also calls for state agencies to submit quarterly reports, beginning April 1, 2006, on whether energy conservation goals have been met and outlining new conservation ideas.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is to expedite the processing of environmental permit applications to use Texas' natural resources to generate electrical power while also protecting the public health and environment, according to the executive order, which goes on to say that the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) is to expedite hearings of contested applications for permits for electric generating facilities. Perry said the directive to SOAH would cut in half, from one year to six months, the amount of time it takes the state to resolved contested applications for electric generating permits.

A complete copy of the executive order is available on the governor's website.

LBB has agenda items but still no date to meet

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has released a list of items that should be considered by the Legislative Budget Board, but members of the LBB have not yet been able to find a date to meet.

In an October 20th letter to House Speaker Tom Craddick - the other leading member of the LBB - Dewhurst (pictured) recommended that the LBB consider 16 issues, including whether to appropriate $10 million to Texas A&M-Kingsville so it can open its pharmacy college next fall and $38.5 million to Texas Tech University so it can finish turning its medical school in El Paso into a four-year institution. Also on the list of proposed agenda items are $76.2 million for trauma centers around the state and $295 million for school textbooks.

Gov. Rick Perry in August proposed using his budget execution authority to fund those items and several others but it still requires LBB approval. The money would come from items passed and funded by legislators but vetoed by Perry.

In his letter to Craddick, Dewhurst said "there is not sufficient monies to fund the [16 items] at the recommended levels. However, this proposed list appears to be a good starting point…"

The LBB was supposed to meet in September but delayed the meeting twice because of hurricane-related issues. Dewhurst proposed in his letter that the LBB meet on October 31 but that won't happen because law requires the LBB to give the public 10-days advance notice before a meeting, and that hasn't happened. Craddick and Dewhurst are still trying to coordinate their schedules.

State sends schools their monthly payment as usual

The state has sent its October payments to school districts despite a court-ordered deadline to halt funding. A ruling last year by state District Judge John Dietz (pictured) barred the state from sending money after Oct. 1 unless the Legislature improved the school finance system.

Of course, state lawmakers still have not come to a consensus on how to revamp funding for public education. The Legislature failed to devise a new school finance system during its regular session and two special sessions. It will not meet again until 2007 unless Gov. Rick Perry calls another special session. Despite the inaction by lawmakers and Dietz's ruling, state attorneys are advising the Texas Education Agency to continue making payments, which are transferred electronically on the 25th of each month.

Williamson Co. to invest $47M in emergency center, offices

Williamson County commissioners voted to take on more than $47 million in debt to pay for a radio dispatch and emergency management center, new county offices in Hutto and Round Rock and technology upgrades.

Bypassing the need for a bond election, commissioners voted to issue certificates of obligation, which allow a county to borrow money without voter approval.

Williamson County will spend $20 million on a central dispatch/emergency center; $7.4 million on technology upgrades; $7.4 million on a county annex in Round Rock; $5.2 million on a courthouse restoration; $3.5 million on an animal shelter; $1.9 million on a tax building; $1.3 million on a county annex in Hutto and $400,000 to buy land for larger maintenance facilities.

A windfall for Texas schools?
Massive wind farm along coast to generate clean energy, millions for state's schools

The state has leased an 11,000-acre swath of the Gulf of Mexico, seven miles off Galveston Island, for enormous wind turbines that could eventually power 40,000 homes and generate millions of dollars for state schools.

The lease is the first granted by any government agency in the nation for an offshore wind project. A Louisiana-based wind power company purchased the 30-year lease for $10,000 a year, for the first five years. Once production starts, somewhere between 2010 and 2012, the state will receive a minimum of $4.9 million in royalties. That figure will grow to at least $14.9 million in years 17 to 30, with all money going to a fund that pays for schools statewide.

By early next year, the company plans to erect two 260-foot-tall meteorological towers in the Gulf off Galveston to better assess wind speed, temperature, tides and the topography of the sea floor. If the wind is right, and the project passes the environmental and public scrutiny needed to obtain a federal construction permit, the firm will eventually will erect 53 turbines and an armored cable to funnel the energy to an existing substation on Galveston's 51st Street.

Spotlight on State Leaders: Barry Bales, LBJ School of Public Affairs

Perhaps few people understand the traits of a good governmental leader better than Dr. Barry Bales. As the assistant dean for professional development at the University of Texas' Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and a 24-year veteran of the institution, Bales is responsible for developing, organizing and administering the professional development seminars that have shaped many of Texas' political and administrative leaders.

For years Bales has been at the forefront of the state's management training efforts. His job: To provide state leaders with the management skills they need to run this state. It's the type of work that first caught Bales' interest just after graduating from Southwest Texas State University in the late '70s with a master's degree in public administration. After working for the university (now known as Texas State) for a couple of years he secured a job at the LBJ school in 1981, helping the renowned institution carry out its training conferences. Over time, he developed a more focused interest in management and leadership development as a critical path for the improvement of government.

Bales is proud of many accomplishments, but perhaps most pleased with the work he has done for the Governor's Executive Development Program. As the program's administrator Bales must make sure that over 2,500 state agency managers are trained each year in management, leadership and quality skills.

He offers the following advice to those who aspire to reach an upper rung of any governmental career ladder: "Take ownership of and be proactive about your own leadership development. Solicit feedback about your strengths and development areas in leadership from people you respect, and use that feedback to purposefully develop needed skills."

"Find a mentor who's leadership skills you admire," he added. "Focus on and be able to articulate the outcomes of the work you do, rather than just on the activities that lead to those outcomes. Have an on-going way of reminding yourself of why you are in the public service - that's often helpful in those periodic times in government when the focus on the negative outweighs the positive. And, of course, enroll in some of our management and leadership courses!"

Bales said the LBJ School's professional development programs have been used by government leaders abroad in the past, and the school may put together leadership courses for officials from India and Brazil.

"We have had some opportunity over the years to offer management and leadership development training in other countries," Bales said. "It is fascinating to see how leadership principles play out in other cultures. With the LBJ School's enhanced focus in the international arena, we hope to do more partnering in the future with officials from other countries in the leadership development area."

Debate over state evacuation plan begins

The gridlock that paralyzed evacuees fleeing Hurricane Rita was intolerable, and Houston officials on Wednesday asked the state during the first of several meetings to form a better plan to deal with bottlenecks and fuel shortages before another storm arrives.

Houston Mayor Bill White (pictured) said after speaking to Gov. Rick Perry's Task Force on Evacuation, Transportation and Logistics that a top priority should be to make sure there is an abundance of fuel and outbound lanes during a mass evacuation. The task force's meeting in Houston was the first of six that will be held across Texas to gather input on how the state can improve its emergency evacuation plan to avoid problems similar to those encountered last month.

Nearly 3 million residents fled the coast in the days before Hurricane Rita struck, causing northbound traffic to come to a halt. About 100 people died in the evacuation process, according to the officials.

The task force's next meeting will be Nov. 2 in Corpus Christi. Others will follow in South Padre Island, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, San Antonio and Beaumont. The task force hasn't set a deadline to issue a report on its findings, but the hope is that the committee will be able to make recommendations to the governor before June 1. Task force chairman Jack Little said the committee will focus on four categories: traffic, fuel availability, the special needs population and coordination of efforts between various government entities.

Earlier this week Gov. Rick Perry named three more individuals to the evacuation task force and announced an expanded schedule of task force meetings. Joining the Task Force will be Bob Walker of Brazoria County, vice president and site director of Texas Operations for Dow Chemical; Carlos Cascos of Cameron County, a member of the Texas Public Safety Commission; and Trey Henderson of Lufkin, president of Angelina Hardwood Sales Co.

Austin may sell, redevelop downtown lots

Austin Council Member Brewster McCracken has proposed shrinking an Austin Energy substation on Cesar Chavez Street downtown to free up 1.4 acres of waterfront land for redevelopment.

The substation sits next to the defunct Seaholm Power Plant along Town Lake, which is in the process of being redeveloped as a tourist destination that may include some sort of museum. McCracken also proposed tearing down an Austin Energy control center northwest of City Hall to redevelop 1.8 more acres there. And he wants to extend West Avenue, which now dead-ends, a few blocks south to Cesar Chavez to create easier access to Seaholm and downtown. The change would crown a dramatic reshaping of southwest downtown, which has been transformed from a group of dilapidated warehouse buildings to a bustling residential, retail and bar scene.

FEMA awards Texas cities $14.4M in hurricane assistance

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded $14.4 million in public assistance grants to San Antonio, Fort Worth, Plano and Bell County. The funds will be used to reimburse the communities for interim housing and temporary shelter for the victims of Hurricane Katrina from the Gulf Coast.

Litter plagues Texas beaches in Hurricanes' wake

Litter from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is still making its way along Gulf of Mexico currents as far south as to the white beaches of South Padre Island. Chemical drums, propane tanks and even a life preserver from the Glenda Sue are there. The Glenda Sue was docked in Grand Isle, La., some 490 miles to the east-northeast, before Katrina hit Aug. 29. The debris, which stretches from South Padre to the Port Mansfield cut, has been arriving for days, and more of it is expected.

LCRA raises wholesale power prices by 33 percent

The Lower Colorado River Authority, a quasi-governmental agency in Central Texas, said it has increased the price it charges wholesale customers by one-third. The authority, which supplies energy to 42 rural electric cooperatives and cities, blamed the increase on natural gas prices, which have doubled since earlier this year.

"The two major hurricanes, which have damaged fuel production and transportation capabilities, have affected gas prices for all electric utilities," said Dan Kuehn, executive manager of LCRA Fuel and Energy Risk Management.

DOJ funnels $1M to Texas to improve criminal record systems

The Department of Justice yesterday announced awards of $26 million to state agencies and tribes across the country so they can improve the completeness, quality and accessibility of the nation's criminal record systems. A little more than $1 million is heading to Texas. More information about the grants can be found online.

"These awards will improve the accuracy of criminal history records and ensure that qualified persons are placed in positions of trust and other sensitive areas," said Regina B. Schofield, Assistant Attorney General for the Department's Office of Justice Programs (OJP). "Improving linkage of records between state and federal agencies additionally improves the nation's ability to immediately identify persons prohibited from purchasing a firearm."

BRAC plan passes House

The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to allow the first round of U.S. military base closures and consolidations in a decade, clearing the way for facilities across the country to start shutting their doors as early as next month. In a 324-85 vote, the House refused to veto the final report of the 2005 base-closing commission (BRAC), meaning the report seems all but certain to become law in mid-November. Targeted facilities, including several in Texas, then would have six years to close their doors and shift forces to other bases.

TxDOT veteran Jerry Dike joins SPI

Texas Department of Transportation veteran Jerry Dike has joined the ranks of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. as a senior consultant. Jerry will assist SPI clients in the transportation realm.

Jerry began his TxDOT career in 1965, and after filling several technical and managerial posts - including assistant director for the Equipment and Procurement Division - retired in August as the director of the Vehicle Titles and Registration Division. He administered vehicle registration and titling for 18 million vehicles collecting $4+ billion annually for state and local government, as well as administered salvage yards and automobile theft prevention activities.

Bond proposals on Nov. ballot may be a boon for contractors

By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

New and improved schools, roads, homeless shelters, a convention center and other projects could receive funding very soon. Voters are expected to approve numerous bond package proposals throughout Texas on the November 8 ballot. TGI will be watching each election carefully and will report on successful bond elections in upcoming issues.

Many parts of Texas are exploding with population growth, prompting local governments to respond. Bond packages are traditionally associated with construction projects, such as building or renovating schools, buildings, facilities or roads. But, bond packages increasingly offer very attractive opportunities for companies outside the construction sector - and the prospects are plentiful.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

[Editors note: Mary Scott Nabers' government contracting columns run regularly in the Austin Business Journal, San Antonio Business Journal, Houston Business Journal and Dallas Business Journal]

GOVERNMENT EXPERT WANTED

Strategic Partnerships, Inc. is seeking a full-time senior consultant. The ideal candidate will have spent at least 10 years working in and around public sector entities. Candidates should have an extensive knowledge of public sector political, budgetary and procurement processes, and should have actively participated in development and oversight of major RFPs or proposal responses. SPI's senior consultants serve as the point person for a team that delivers to clients services that include strategy, research, positioning and the presentation of unique opportunities. Applicants may send a cover letter and resume to pmaugham@spartnerships.com.

Harris County to solicit toll-road plans

Harris County officials this week agreed to solicit investment banks for plans to privatize the toll road authority. County officials said they believe that if a private company leased and then managed Houston's toll road system it would free up public money for other endeavors.

Houston finalizes airport master plan

Houston aviation officials have completed the third and final public information session concerning proposed recommendations for the 20-year George Bush Intercontinental Airport master plan. The plan includes future development designs for the airfield, passenger terminal, access system, and support facilities at the airport. Individual projects recommended in the plan will be initiated by demand, not at a predetermined time in the future, according to airport reports.

UT collects $3M donation

Texas oilman W.A. "Tex" Moncrief Jr. has donated $3 million to the University of Texas to fund three faculty chairs, in hopes of attracting nationally and internationally known scholars. Moncrief gave the money to the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, located at the university's flagship campus in Austin. The institute promotes interdisciplinary research in computational sciences, mathematical modeling and software engineering. The money will be matched by an anonymous gift from a previous donor.

SA Police chief to retire

Albert Ortiz, who nearly four years ago became San Antonio's second Hispanic top law enforcement official, announced his retirement Tuesday. Citing a desire to spend more time with his family, the chief, 54, said he would end his 33-year career in law enforcement. He said his last day in office will be Jan. 6, 2006.

FW suburb considers name change

More than 100 people packed a senior citizens center recently to tell city officials that it would be shameful to change their city's name from White Settlement. Voters decide Nov. 8 whether to change the name to West Settlement. The current name is derived from the town's history. When it was established in the 1800s, the settlement was surrounded by several American Indian tribes.

UT Southwestern professor elected to national advisory group

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas professor Steven McKnight has been elected to the Institute of Medicine, a component of the National Academy of Sciences. McKnight is one of only two Texans elected to the organization. The other Texas professor elected to the board was Mary K. Estes, a professor of molecular virology and microbiology and medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. The nonprofit organization, which advises the nation on national health issues, selects members based on international distinction in science, clinical medicine, public health or medical administration.

TAMUG dedicates new marine research building

Texas A&M University at Galveston had a dedication ceremony recently for a new $14.8 million engineering research complex that was years in the making. The facility, which more than tripled the college's classroom and laboratory space, is the first new structure on campus since 1995. Construction of the three-story complex began in 2002 and was completed in January.

Procurement articles online

Click here to view recent articles on government procurement authored by Mary Scott Nabers, president and CEO of Strategic Partnerships Inc., and published in the Austin Business Journal and Houston Business Journal.

[Editor's note: Mary Scott Nabers' procurement columns run regularly in the Austin Business Journal, Houston Business Journal, San Antonio Business Journal and the Dallas Business Journal]

Event Links

2005 Lawsuit Survival Courses for County Officials - 11/3/05

Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas' "Policy Changes for the New Millenium" - 11/15/05

OAG's 2005 Open Government Conference - 12/12/05-12/14/05

2006 Courts & Local Government Technology Conference - 1/31/06-2/2/06

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3 Archives - 11/7/03 - 10/21/05

Resources

TBPC Vendor Guide

State Budget Resources

HUB Forms Library

State Contract Management Guide

State Procurement Manual

Who Represents Me? Texas Districts By Address

Diagram of Texas' Biennial Budget Cycle

Texas Fact Book

Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) is a research and consulting firm offering business development and public affairs services. Founded in Texas in 1994 by former government executives and public sector experts, SPI has developed a national reputation as the premier marketing partner dedicated to helping companies secure contracts in the $1.5 trillion state and local government marketplace. To learn more about SPI services click here or contact our sales department at 512-531-3900.

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Austin, Texas 78730

Natural gas competition workshops

The Texas Railroad Commission is hosting a series of workshops around the state during the next month or so to gather information for a natural gas competition study. The study will examine and determine the extent to which viable competition exists in the Texas natural gas pipeline industry from the wellhead to the burner tip. The first meeting is in Amarillo on November 15. There will be a meeting in San Antonio on November 17. You can learn more about the study at this Web site, or call Danny Bivens at (512) 475-1958 for more information.

SH 130 Corridor Summit

Residents, city and county leaders in Central Texas are invited to the SH 130 Corridor Sumit, which is to take place on Saturday Nov. 19. Register online at www.envisioncentraltexas.org or call (512) 916-6037 by Nov. 4.