2008 COMMITTEE AGENDAS
On a regional basis, AARO is addressing a number of strategic initiatives to facilitate the accomplishment of a dynamic strategic vision for Central Texas.Education
Vision: Central Texas is a region comprised of world-class public school districts for all of its children.Projects: Support the K-12 segment within the E3 Alliance and the Blueprint for Change. Facilitate development and retention of qualified elected and appointed school district leadership through the ad-hoc candidate recruitment team, and related efforts. Develop depth of business leader awareness and support for public education through monthly breakfasts with the school superintendent.
Energy
Vision: Central Texas has access to clean and adequate energy,
efficiently used, to support the continued economic growth of Central Texas.Project: Assess the long term sufficiency and affordability of power generation in Central Texas. Specifically, explore the two major regional providers concerns about the adequacy and affordability of their long term energy supplies, and identify strategies for improvement that AARO can champion.
Health Care
Project: Stabilize the quality and financial firmness of the
health care delivery system in the region.
To this end, AARO researched the price point and benefits of a health
insurance product that would inspire small businesses to offer coverage to their
employees. Considering a research
project exploring the business case for owners of small companies to
participate in a low-cost insurance plan.Higher Education
Vision: The Central Texas higher education system is a significant catalyst for the region’s vibrant economy: It facilitates technology transfer, produces sufficient numbers of qualified graduates to meet the workforce needs of employers, and works effectively with the community.Projects: Support the higher education segment within the E3 Alliance and the Blueprint for Change, specifically hosting semi-annual meetings for the Presidents of the 7 higher education institutions in Central Texas. Develop depth of business leader awareness of and support for Austin Community College as a critical element in achieving the closing the higher education gap through bi-monthly breakfasts with the ACC President.
Leadership
Vision: Central Texas is a region with a mutually beneficial
and constructive relationship with each sector of its economy: private, university, and state
government. The region is vibrant and
evolving due to the high rate of civic leadership in support of initiatives
that are essential to the quality of life of the region. Committee role in AARO: The Committee ensures that AARO addressed the key community issues for Central Texas. If an issue falls outside of the AARO committee structure, the Leadership Committee will make certain that AARO does whatever is necessary to address the problem.
Projects: Increase the breadth and depth of elected and civic leadership for our 5-county region through the Frank McBee Jr. Fellowship Program in Civic Entrepreneurship, co-sponsorship of the Leadership Academy for Public Service, and visiting with regional and state-level elected and appointed leaders.
Social Equity
Vision: Every person in the Central Texas region has the
opportunity to earn a living wage by having access to capital (financial,
political, leadership and social), jobs for which they are qualified,
affordable housing, health care, mobility, education, job training, and other
basic needs. Project: Adopt and promote a set of principles that if implemented would enable every person in the Central Texas region to have the opportunity to earn a living wage. The Committee is working in collaboration with Success by 6 and the E3 Alliance to educate the region about the critical foundation formed by cradle to kindergarten experience. Currently, the Committee is exploring affordable housing and banking services in Central Texas and their impact on financial stability.
Transportation
Vision: The region has a multi-modal transportation system
that effectively serves and grows to meet the mobility needs of the expanding
population of the Central Texas region.Project: Improve mobility and contain traffic congestion through implementation of multi-modal transportation projects and enhancements. The Committee has worked to remove barriers to implementation of Central Texas toll projects and major east-west connectors. The Committee also evaluates transit projects.
Water
Vision: The Central Texas region has a long-term adequate affordable
water supply to satisfy municipal, farming and ranching, mining, manufacturing
and steam electric demands, with appropriate coordination and cooperation among
all users and suppliers. Satisfaction of
the region’s water needs does not deteriorate and may improve the region’s
ecology. Project: Water Conservation in Central Texas, a research project that aims to determine:
1.
The extent to
which Central Texas water user groups are implementing water conservation
strategies as planned, and the quantity of water being saved.
2. The ability of all water providers in the 5-county region to meet goals and targets for per capita use recommended by the Water Conservation Implementation Task Force (2001/2007), using least cost options, and (determine) known barriers to implementation.
3. The lowest-cost conservation and efficiency strategies to achieve planned-for water supplies, and future conservation and efficiencies needed to supply future population-driven demand.
2. The ability of all water providers in the 5-county region to meet goals and targets for per capita use recommended by the Water Conservation Implementation Task Force (2001/2007), using least cost options, and (determine) known barriers to implementation.
3. The lowest-cost conservation and efficiency strategies to achieve planned-for water supplies, and future conservation and efficiencies needed to supply future population-driven demand.