Bid for presidential library heats up

With a September 15th deadline to submit proposals, university and city leaders across the state have put the finishing touches on their bid to lure the George W. Bush Presidential Library to their area.

Among the competitors for the library are the University of Texas System, Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, and the City of Arlington.

Competition is already fierce. City leaders in Lubbock, for example, approved $50 million in public funding for the library, contingent on Texas Tech being selected for the library by a national site committee. UT System Board of Regents Chairman James Huffines (pictured) said UT is submitting a "visionary" and "futuristic" plan for a multi-site library, but declined to reveal any more details about UT's proposal.

TEA sets up committee to look at schools' 65 percent rule

A task force of educators will help craft the definition that determines which instructional costs are used when determining whether Texas school districts are spending 65 percent of their operating costs on instruction.

Education Commissioner Shirley J. Neeley (pictured) said "educators from across Texas will help draft this element of our financial accountability system, and there will be no secrets or surprises about the way Texas will measure direct classroom spending."

Gov. Rick Perry recently directed the commissioner to implement a requirement that at least 65 percent of education dollars be spent in the classroom, but many educators said the rule is unreasonable due to the definition of classroom costs. The commissioner has authority under state statutes dealing with a school financial rating system to develop financial measures for school districts and to impose sanctions.

Members of the 65 percent rule task force are:

• Superintendent David Anthony, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District;
• Executive Director John Bass, Region 16 Education Service Center, Amarillo;
• Superintendent Carol Ann Bonds, Livingston ISD;
• Superintendent Cathy Bryce, Highland Park ISD, Dallas
• Superintendent Bonny Cain, Pearland ISD;
• Superintendent Pat Forgione, Austin ISD;
• Superintendent Annette Griffin, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD;
• Superintendent Michael Hinojosa, Dallas ISD;
• Superintendent Robert Nicks, Midland ISD;
• Superintendent Patricia Pickles, Pflugerville ISD;
• Superintendent Thomas Randall, Lamar Consolidated ISD;
• Superintendent Abe Saavedra, Houston ISD;
• Superintendent Jesus Sanchez, Eagle Pass ISD;
• Superintendent Carrol Thomas, Beaumont ISD; and
• Executive Director James Vasquez, Region 19 Education Service Center, El Paso.

Governor seeks full reimbursement of evacuees' health care costs

Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday asked Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt to ensure that the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of providing Medicaid and other health care services to the 200,000 or so Hurricane Katrina victims that have made their way to Texas.

"Without the guarantee of total federal funding for Medicaid services for evacuees in Texas, Texas taxpayers will be forced to bear a financial burden that, in effect, punishes them for opening their hearts and homes to fellow Americans in need," Perry wrote in his letter to Leavitt.

Perry (pictured-top)wrote the letter after getting word that the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services planned to ask Texas to absorb the normal state match for Medicaid services - which in this case would likely range in the millions of dollars. The state pays about 39 cents of every dollar spent on Medicaid.

Dallas names new homeless czar
New appointee calls for $23M bond measure

North Texas business magnate Mike Rawlings was appointed Wednesday by Dallas Mayor Laura Miller to be the city's new homeless czar. Rawlins said he would immediately start work to build support for a $23.8 million bond proposal on the November ballot to fund a homeless assistance center that would include shelter and social service referrals and small apartments.

Rawlings, general partner of a Dallas-based private equity firm, also vowed to lead efforts to reduce Dallas' homeless population and change the perception that homeless people are a nuisance. Dallas is already working to build a new assistance center for more than 6,000 homeless residents, and is coping with a recent influx of thousands of hurricane evacuees seeking shelter.

Lubbock loses then appoints city manager

Lubbock City Manager Lou Fox (pictured) resigned Thursday, citing family responsibilities.Lubbock council members amicably accepted the resignation and immediately appointed Chief Financial Officer and Assistant City Manager Lee Ann Dumbauld as city manger.

Texas gives break to displaced businesses

Giving new meaning to its marketing slogan "Texas: Wide Open for Business," officials with the Texas Secretary of State office said Texas will allow corporations, limited partnerships and limited liability companies from the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina to temporarily transact business in Texas without a certificate of authority.

"One of the greatest assets to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as they heal and rebuild will be their business communities," said Roger Williams, Texas Secretary of State. "And yet, the destruction and loss caused by Katrina pose serious problems for business owners, especially small business owners. My office is doing everything it can, within the scope of Texas law, for businesses that have temporarily relocated to Texas."

Nahdiah Hoang, an attorney in the corporations section, has been appointed as a special liaison to assist any business temporarily relocating as a result of Katrina. She has been given authority to facilitate filings with the Secretary of State's Office. She can be reached directly at nhoang@sos.state.tx.us.

Former Austin mayor, statewide candidate announces for Texas Senate seat

Shortly after Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos of Austin announced that he will not run for re-election in 2006, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Chairman and former Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said he would. Watson was mayor of Austin from 1997 to 2001. He ran unsuccessfully for attorney general in 2002. Barrientos said he's leaving the Senate after 20 years to pursue opportunities in the private sector, and spend more time with this family. Prior to joining the Senate, he spent 10 years as a state representative.

El Paso starts work on $87M desalination plant

City officials gathered Wednesday in the West Texas desert to celebrate a new desalination plant that will provide clean drinking water and fuel El Paso's growth and economic development for at least 50 years.

The $87 million plant is expected to produce 27.5 million gallons of water a day when its finished in 2007. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (pictured) of Texas said the plant was key in persuading the Pentagon to send additional soldiers to Fort Bliss as part of the Base Closure and Realignment Committee (BRAC) process.

San Antonio courting New Orleans Saints

City officials and luminaries in San Antonio are reportedly discussing with the NFL the possibility of hosting several New Orleans Saints games at the Alamodome. The pitch came from, among others, former San Antonio Mayor and U.S. Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros, who assured the league that the displaced Saints could expect to play before significant, if not sold-out, crowds at the Alamodome. Regardless of where they play their games, the Saints are expected to base their operations in San Antonio for the remainder of the season after Hurricane Katrina flooded their hometown.

Governor makes several appointments

Governor Rick Perry made the following appointments this past week:

• Albert Betts Jr. of Austin was named commissioner of the Division of Workers’ Compensation at the Texas Department of Insurance;
• Texas Homeland Security Director Steven McCraw was appointed to the Homeland Security Council;
• Albert Hawkins was reappointed Health and Human Services executive commissioner;
• Shelia Bailey Taylor was reappointed chief administrative law judge at the State Office of Administrative Hearings;
• Sharon Swift Butterworth, John Cuellar, Jean L. Freeman and Nancy Lund were appointed to state's Aging and Disabilities Services Council;
• David Coco, Timothy Flannery, Dr. Lance Goetz, Connie Hughes, Joseph Muniz, Dr. Diane Marie Novy, Dr. Robert K Peters, Robin Riccardi and Richard E. Tankerson secured spots on the Assistive & Rehabilitative Council; and
• Richard Boyer, James A. Thompson and Melvin R. White were appointed trustees of Stephen F. Austin State University.

ACC to draw up master plan

Austin Community College's Board of Trustees has selected a vendor to develop its facilities master plan, which will help the college decide where and how to expand. The master plan will examine demographics, population trends and potential expansions in Central Texas. The trustees approved a budget of up to $300,000 for the project. Results of the plan will be used for land purchases and efforts to annex areas into ACC's taxing district and fundraising.

Fort Worth city manager calls for expansion of I-35W

Fort Worth City Manager Charles Boswell told city council members this week that the city should rush to address the growing problem of congestion on North Interstate 35W. The traffic is unusually bad near downtown, he pointed out. City officials vowed to put together a draft plan to ease congestion, and said public and private entities will be included in the planning process.

Report: Brooks base not viable option for A&M campus

Despite the prospect of free land, a report recently delivered to San Antonio council members concluded that putting a Texas A&M campus at Brooks City-Base would cost $12.7 million more than it would at the site already targeted by city and A&M officials.

The report put the overall cost of locating the planned campus at Brooks at $48.4 million. That includes $39 million for road construction, $7 million for environmental and real estate costs, $1.5 million for water lines and $850,000 for wastewater infrastructure. By comparison, locating at the southwest quadrant of South Loop 410 and U.S. 281 - which is A&M and the city's preferred site - would cost $35.7 million, according to the report. That includes $12.6 million to buy out about 100 property owners.

U.S.-Arab Economic Forum postponed

The U.S.-Arab Economic Forum, scheduled to take place in Houston Sept. 14-16, has been indefinitely postponed due to events related to Hurricane Katrina. Event organizers are currently working with the city to identify a new date for the high-profile event. The U.S.-Arab Economic Affairs Committee is organized by the American Middle East Economic Affairs Committee, a nonprofit initiative that addresses the challenges facing the Middle East and North Africa. The event is supported by the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce, USAID, the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

SPI Welcomes Kirk Yoshida back to the Research Team!

Kirk Yoshida is back on the job...and the people at SPI are delighted! Kirk took a year off to join a teaching team in Japan. He taught English to Japanese children. Kirk has been with SPI since 1999 and is one of the most valued members of the Research and Information Team. Clients will be delighted to know he is back on the job. To learn more about Kirk click here.

Texas nets $75 million grant to help Katrina victims find jobs

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) received a $75 million grant to provide job-training assistance to individuals who have evacuated to Texas because of Hurricane Katrina. The state agency received from funds from the U.S. Department of Labor. Through this grant, Louisiana residents will be offered temporary jobs to provide food, clothing, shelter and humanitarian assistance for fellow flood victims. The federal funds will also be used to pay for crisis and financial counseling, help filing for Disaster Unemployment Assistance and Unemployment Insurance claims, job training and open temporary job transition centers near shelters.

UT gets grant to improve bridge safety

A University of Texas professor will receive almost $1 million to work on making bridges more resistant to terrorist attacks. The National Cooperative Highway Research Program, a government-run fund, granted Eric Williamson $950,000 for the project. Williamson, a researcher at UT-Austin, will work with private consultants and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to test bridge design and response to blasts. The research will cover both computer simulations and physical tests on model bridges.

TxDOT to consider major road expansions in Houston

The Texas Department of Transportation is expected to consider in October a proposal that would significantly expand the North Freeway and the Hardy Toll Road in Houston. The Regional Transportation Policy Council, which screens proposals for federal funding, will consider in the meantime everything from elevated to HOV lanes on the congested freeways.

Del Mar OKs $64M budget

The Del Mar College Board of Regents in South Texas has approved a $64 million budget for the coming year - about $5 million more than last year. Much of the increased spending will go toward enhanced teacher salaries.

Geren named acting Air Force chief

Former U.S. Rep. Pete Geren of Fort Worth has been appointed acting secretary of the Air Force. Geren, 53, has served as special assistant to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld since September 2001. Geren's new duties include overseeing fighter jet projects being developed by private firms.

UT-Austin likely home for new public health campus

Austin will probably be the next home for a University of Texas public health regional campus that could train future researchers and public health officials. The UT School of Public Health is based in Houston, with four regional campuses spread across the state. UT officials said the new campus in Austin could draw on talent from the College of Pharmacy and the schools of nursing, public affairs and social work.

LBJ professor named director of international project

An LBJ School of Public Affairs professor has been named the new director of an American Assembly project. Francis Gavin, an assistant professor at the LBJ School, is director of Next Generation Project: Creating Better Global Institutions for America. The American Assembly is an affiliate of Columbia University. The Next Generation Project seeks to engage emerging political, academic, professional and civic US leaders who have played or now play a major role in making American international policy.

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.

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

Event Links

Conference on Intellectual Property in the Global Marketplace - 9/12/05-9/13/05

Texas Municipal League Technology Summit - 9/15/05-9/16/05

2005 National Summit on Your City’s Families - 9/25/05-9/28/05

International City/County Management Association's 91st Annual Conference - 9/25/05-9/28/05

NCTCOG/ULI Development Excellence Education Day - 9/29/05

Homeland Security Conference: Mexico/Texas Border - 10/6/05

West Texas Regional Gang Investigators' Course - 10/18/05-10/20/05

Texas Municipal League Annual Conference - 10/26/05-10/28/05

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

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3 Archives - 11/7/03 - 9/1/05

Resources

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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National League of Cities summit in San Antonio

Texas local elected officials and other community leaders in Texas working to improve the lives of children, youth and families have the opportunity to participate in the National League of Cities' 2005 National Summit on Your City’s Families. This National Summit will be held September 25 - 28, 2005, at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio. For more information click here.

2005 Open Government Conference

The Texas Office of the Attorney General will host the 2005 Open Government Conference in Austin December 12-14. More information about the conference, which brings together residents, government officials and the media, can be found here.