I'm in Austin for a conference on the SmartCode (more on that in another post). I came a few hours early on Wednesday to spend some time at the Capitol lobbying for some city and North Texas concerns. I concentrated most of my efforts on visiting the office of our Garland representatives to mention Garland's Legislative Agenda and the Legislative Agenda of the Partners in Mobility, which is the group of North Texas agencies and organizations dealing with transportation, like the Dallas Regional Mobility Council that I sit on.

I also took time to visit Senator Royce West's office to express some concerns about a bill that is in his Intergovernmental Relations Committee. It deals with homeowner associations and if it is eventually passed could have some negative affects on HOA's. While I think parts of the bill are quite good, such as mandatory disclosure by sellers, other parts are overly restrictive and I don't yet understand the reason for some parts. One section sets a six-year term limit for board members. My association has a two-year limit in one position but if the members so desire, they can elect a person to another position. It is common in many associations (as it is in many organizations) for members to get experience in different positions and then eventually be president. Such a provision would mean the president of any HOA board has relatively limited experience. It is just strange to me that the Legislature should start writing the by-laws of citizen organizations. I don't think they would try to do the same thing to the Kiwanis or Rotary or an association of realtors or a country club board. Parts of the bill seem to be employment sections for lawyers and management companies. It definitely penalizes the self-managed associations, which are usually the ones that are closest to the members and have the lowest operating costs.

I also tried to testify on behalf of our SafeLight Program before the House Urban Affairs Committee but I had to leave to attend a reception for legislators that was being hosted by Partners in Mobility.

Mayor Bob Day was at the reception, as were a very large contingent of North Texas mayors and transportation officials.

I was able to visit with several people I know and to meet more. I spent several moments talking to Mayor David Greene and two Council members from Duncanville. I complimented them on some recent New Urbanist projects that have been completed in Duncanville and we discussed how such projects are so necessary if we are to address the urban sprawl that makes it so difficult to move around the Metroplex and how so many people are living in their cars going and coming from work.

While making rounds at the Capitol, I ran into Battalion Chief David Holcombe and two other Garland firefighters. They were there, along with a hundred or more other Texas firefighters, to be part of two special resolutions being presented by the Senate.

The Senate started its Wednesday session much like we sometimes do at the Council by presenting recognition to deserving individuals and groups. In most cases a Senator would rise to give recognition to visiting groups sitting in the gallery and there would be an appreciative applause from the whole chamber.

At one point, the tone and timbre changed and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst asked the wandering Senators to take their seats for a special memorial resolution, the first of two. The Senate then read and approved resolutions recognizing two firemen from different cities that had died in the line of duty. It was a solemn and moving experience for me and I know it was also very special to the firefighters that were there.

The prayer that marked the opening of the session was given by the state firefighters association's chaplain. He gave the prayer that I always try to give but I always fall short of the standard he set.

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