MINUTES

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Friday, September 22, 2006

10:00 a.m.

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio City Council Chambers

 

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.18, a joint public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources was held on Friday, September 22, 2006, in the San Antonio, Texas City Council Chambers.

 

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MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Senator Kip Averitt

Senator Gonzalo Barrientos

Senator Jon Lindsay

 

Senator Craig Estes

Senator Robert Duncan

Senator Troy Fraser

Senator Juan Hinojosa

Senator Mike Jackson

Senator Kel Seliger

Senator Todd Staples

 

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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.  The following business was transacted: 

 

The following testified before the Committee:

 

On Welcoming the Committee to San Antonio:

The Honorable Phil Hardberger, Mayor, City of San Antonio

The Honorable Nelson W. Wolff, Bexar County Judge

Sam Dawson, Chair-Water Committee, Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce

 

On Review of Texas Water Development Board Policy Recommendations in the Draft 2007 State Water Plan:

Thomas Weir Labatt III, Board Member, Texas Water Development Board

 

The following three witnesses were called as a panel and testified on the 2007 Draft State Water Plan and the Regional Water Planning Process with particular focus on Region L:

Carolyn Brittin, Director of Water Resources, Texas Water Development Board

Bill Mullican, Deputy Executive Administrator of Planning, Texas Water Development Board

Con Mims, Nueces River Authority, Region L Chair

 

At 12:30 p.m. Senator Averitt moved that the committee stand recessed until 1:15 a.m; without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

At 1:20 p.m. the committee reconvened.  The following testified before the Committee:

           

On an Overview of House Bill 41/Senate Bill 24 79(1) by Puente/Armbrister

Robert Potts, General Manager, Edwards Aquifer Authority

 

On House Bill 41/Senate Bill 24 79(1) by Puente/Armbrister and Regional Water Issues

David E. Chardavoyne, President and Chief Operating Officer, San Antonio Water System

Gil Olivares, General Manager, Bexar Metropolitan Water District

Jose Gallegos, Jr., Board Member, Bexar Metropolitan Water District

Will Carter, Board Member, Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Water Control and Improvement District #1

Greg Rothe, General Manager, San Antonio River Authority

Thomas Boehme, State Director-District 10, Texas Farm Bureau

Bill West, General Manager, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority

Gary Middleton, Chairman, South Central Texas Water Advisory Committee

 

The Chair opened public testimony and the following testified before the Committee:

 

Carol Patterson, Board Member, Edwards Aquifer Authority

Thomas P. Taggart, Guadalupe Basin Coalition

Ben F. Vaughan IV, Coastal Conservation Association of Texas

George Rice, Hydrologist, Self

Russell S. Johnson, Brazos Valley Water Alliance, LP

Dr. Bob Fitzgerald, Medina County Environmental Action Association

John D. Kennerly, Self

Annalisa Peace, Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance

Dr. George Burlingame, Retired Chemist - Dentist, Guardians of the Colorado River Basin

Herman W. Brune, Rancher/Writer, Texas Fish and Game Magazine, Colorado County Citizen

Bob Barton, Self

Mary F. Walpole, Medina County Environmental Action Association

Lester Landrum, Medina County Environmental Action Association

Alyne Fitzgerald, Medina County Environmental Action Association

Brenda B. Kennerly, Self and Medina County Environmental Action Association

Randy Wood, Electrical Engineer, Medina County Environmental Action Association

Elizabeth Wood, Self, Medina County Environmental Action Association

 

The Chair closed public testimony.

 

There being no further business, Senator Averitt moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 

 

 

 

_____________________________

Senator Kip Averitt, Chair

 

 

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Teddy Carter, Clerk