Advocacy Alert: North SA Chamber Opposes Proposed Storm Water Fee Changes

North Chamber logo 4c stackedThe City of San Antonio (CoSA) Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) proposed a project to “migrate the existing Storm Water Utility Fee from one based upon land use and parcel size to one based upon impervious cover,” and completed a study to determine revenues needed to be recovered by the fee over the next five years. TCI has communicated the proposed changes in rate methodology to various stakeholders including governmental agencies, chambers of commerce, professional and other organizations, as well as school districts. Learn more about the Storm Water Utility Fee

As the process has progressed, the North SA Chamber, as a stakeholder, has determined the proposed Storm Water Fee changes will penalize property owners for building activity that occurred before the adoption of the proposed methodology and rates. The Storm Water Fee restructuring will affect both residential and commercial customers.

The North SA Chamber board of directors met Tuesday, July 22, 2014 and voted in opposition of the proposed Storm Water Fee as it is currently presented. We have seen example commercial Storm Water Fee calculations using the proposed methodology showing in most cases, increases of several hundred percent, and in some cases, increases of more than 1000% or even 2000%. This is unreasonable. Click here to read the letter your North SA Chamber sent to city staff and officials

The Storm Water Fee restructuring will result in increases in commercial fees that will be burdensome to absorb by public schools, colleges, universities and existing businesses with large campuses including corporate headquarters, manufacturing facilities, hotels/resorts, attractions, multi-family housing, commercial office complexes, auto dealerships, retail establishments and others. Additionally, the new methodology and rates would be unattractive to an existing business considering expansion or a new business considering relocation within the city limits of San Antonio, thus will result in a negative impact on business retention, expansion and recruitment.

North SA Chamber Position:
The North SA Chamber is opposed to an increase in Storm Water Fees to any individual user of more than 10% in any given fiscal year. The North SA Chamber respectfully requests that the proposed Storm Water Fee restructuring not be adopted in the 2015 CoSA budget, and that the process be permitted to continue further until the City, stakeholders and the public can address issues including the definition of impervious cover, methodology, rate structure and appeals. Click here to obtain the Advocacy Alert flyer

Call to Action:

  • Contact the Mayor and your City Council Representative.
  • Tell them September 2014 is too early to adopt the flawed, proposed Storm Water Fee restructuring.
  • Tell them you are opposed to the Storm Water Fee proposed methodology and rates.
  • Ask them to continue to revise the proposed Storm Water Fee methodology and rates with stakeholder and public input.

City Elected Officials Contact Information:

Mayor Ivy R. Taylor
210.207.7060
Mayor.IvyTaylor@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Diego Bernal, District 1
210.207.7279
district1@sanantonio.gov

Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, District 3
210.207.7064
district3@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Rey Saldana, District 4
210.207.7281
district4@sanantonio.gov

Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, District 5
210.207.7043
Shirley.Gonzales@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Ray Lopez, District 6
210.207.7065
district6@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Cris Medina, District 7
210.207.7044
district7@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Ron Nirenberg, District 8
210.207.7086
district8@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Joe Krier, District 9
210.207.7325
district9@sanantonio.gov

Councilman Mike Gallagher, District 10
210.207.7276
district10@sanantonio.gov

City of San Antonio Mayor & City Council

Mailing Address
P.O. Box 839966
San Antonio, TX 78283

Physical Address
City Hall, 4th Floor
100 Military Plaza
San Antonio, TX 78205

Advocacy Alert SWF Flyer

Firstmark Credit Union Supports San Antonio’s “Go Public” Campaign

firstmark_FCU_logoFirstmark Credit Union, a leading San Antonio financial institution, announced that is has made a financial contribution in support of the “Go Public” Campaign. The public relations campaign is dedicated to promote positive awareness around Bexar County’s independent public districts.

“We have a proud history of serving the needs of the education community in Bexar County over the last 80 years,” said Leon Ewing, Chief Executive Officer and President. “This campaign will help highlight the many positive accomplishments our teachers, support personnel, administration, and most importantly, students strive for on a daily basis” Ewing added.

Led by Bexar County’s 15 Independent School Districts and co-chaired by Josue Robles, CEO of USAA, Kim Bowers, CEO of CST Brands, and Chris Nielsen, President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas, “Go Public” is inspiring people across the region to take a step back and celebrate the positive and sustained impact public schools make on all residents.

“Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. is proud to join community partners like FirstMark in this important community initiative, said Chris Nielsen, President of Toyota Manufacturing Texas. “Together, we support San Antonio’s educators, parents and most importantly, students. Public schools are vital to the continued success of our workforce industry.”

Ewing will also serve as a fundraising Co-Chair for Go Public.

“Firstmark was founded by small group of teachers and administrators from the San Antonio Independent School District,” said Ewing. “We proudly have taken the “Love Your Bexar County Public Schools” pledge,” Ewing added.

About Firstmark Credit Union
Firstmark Credit Union provides financial services to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Bexar County, as well as education-related employees in Bexar County and the 11 surrounding counties; and their relatives. Established in 1932, the Credit Union has 13 locations serving over 93,000 members and manages $820 million in assets. For more information, go to www.firstmarkcu.org

SACU and KENS TV recognize 19 teachers with the 14th annual ExCEL Awards program

SACU logoSACU and KENS5 recognized 19 teachers for excellence in the public school classroom during the 14th year of ExCEL Awards program for the 2012-2013 school year. Winners selected by their districts represent the best teachers in our schools and, through this program, share their best practices with other educators.

SACU and KENS leaders hosted the winners, their principals and superintendents and their guests at an end-of-year banquet to celebrate the teachers’ successes. Paul Garro, CEO of City Year San Antonio, was the keynote speaker.

“SACU and KENS5 know that a great teacher can impact and inspire students to achieve much more than they dreamed possible,” Laura Johnston, SACU Chief Marketing Officer, said. “We can’t imagine a better way to impact education than to recognize great teachers and help them share the ways they are being highly effective in their classrooms.”

You can see the winners together on KENS5’s Great Day SA in August 2013, to announce the 15th year of ExCEL which resumes in September. Each winner also has an individual web page at sacu.com/ExCEL. On KENS5.com, view the winners’ videos or recognize your favorite teacher with a story and a photo.

Since 1999, the ExCEL program has recognized 266 teachers with awards totaling $269,800. ExCEL celebrates dedicated teachers with a trophy, a check for $1,000 and featured airtime on Eyewitness News at 6. By recognizing exceptional teachers, these educators can share their innovative techniques and others will be able to learn from their examples. Teachers win through collaboration, students win through quality education, and society wins as education improves.

SACU is a $2.9 billion credit union, with 16 locations in San Antonio and one in Houston. As a member-owned financial institution, SACU provides a wide array of convenient services to members through GOTM, the mobile app from SACU, and numerous online services. Members benefit through competitive savings and loan rates and reasonably priced financial services. There are hundreds of ways to qualify for membership at SACU. Visit sacu.com, or call 210-258-1234 or 1-800-688-SACU (7228) for information.