Please join HCC for a one-hour Lunch and Learn, presented by Forestar, discussing the upcoming City of Austin November Bond Package. Learn about the specific projects that may be included in the November bond election, the City's first comprehensive bond election since 2006. The November election may include funding for affordable housing, city facilities, community-based projects, parks and open space, transportation/mobility, and community based projects such as the Violet Crown Trail. In developing recommendations to the City Council, the Citizen Bond Advisory Committee carefully considered a $1.49 billion city-wide "needs assessment." Come learn what projects will be on the ballot and how they will affect you.

 Panelists:

Moderator: Jeb Boyt, Member, Bond Election Advisory Task Force and HCC Board 

Mayor Lee Leffingwell 

 Beth Ann Ray, Vice President, Regional Infrastructure, Austin Chamber of Commerce

 Frank Fernandez, Executive Director, Green Doors 

Tuesday, September 25th

Green Pastures Restaurant

 811 Live Oak Street

Austin, TX 78704

Registration/Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m.

  Presentation 12 to 1 p.m.

(Registration fees include gourmet vegetarian and meat buffet)

HCC would like to thank Forestar for sponsoring this and all 2012 Lunch and Learn Presentations.

Bios:

Jeb Boyt

Jeb Boyt is an attorney in private practice.  Previously, he has worked at the Office of the Texas Attorney General, the Texas General Land Office, and the Railroad Commission of Texas.  Jeb is a board member of the Alliance for Public Transportation and Austin Metro Trails & Greenways.  He has previously served on the City of Austin’s Parks Board, Downtown Commission, and Waller Creek Commission.  A native of Liberty County, Jeb has lived in Austin since 1993.

Lee Leffingwell, Mayor, CITY OF AUSTIN

Lee Leffingwell is a native of Austin, and grew up in the Bouldin neighborhood in South Austin. Lee attended Austin public schools and graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in mechanical engineering. After college, Lee became an officer and pilot in the United States Navy, and served on active duty in the Vietnam War. He subsequently joined the Naval Reserves, and retired from the Armed Forces after 20 years of service with the rank of Commander.Lee was a pilot with Delta Air Lines for more than 30 years, ending his career as an international Boeing 767 and MD-11 Captain.

After retiring from Delta, Lee became a full-time community volunteer in Austin, with a focus on environmental causes. He was appointed to the city's Environmental Board by the Austin City Council in 1999, and subsequently elected Chair of the board by his colleagues. In 2005, Lee ran for and won the Place 1 seat on the Austin City Council; he was re-elected to that seat in 2008 with 68% of the vote. In 2009, Lee ran successfully for Austin mayor, winning the support of every endorsing Democratic, neighborhood and environmental group in Austin.As both Council member and mayor, Lee has been focused on job creation, transportation, public safety, social services, environmental protection, and making City Hall more transparent and accountable.

Lee is married to Julie Byers, a registered nurse at Seton Northwest hospital. Lee and Julie are the parents of three and the grand-parents of six. Lee runs five miles most mornings, and is a USSF accredited soccer referee.

Frank Fernandez

As Executive Director of Green Doors, Frank Fernandez is focused on transforming lives and neighborhoods for people in need. His innovative approach to addressing the issues surrounding homelessness, known as Opportunity-based Housing, has turned Green Doors, a once-struggling nonprofit, into one of the fastest growing in the region. As co-founder of the Austin-based advocacy coalition, HousingWorks, Frank is a leader in the area of affordable housing in Central Texas. In 2006, he led a successful campaign to pass $55 million in municipal bonds to support affordable housing in Austin, and currently serves as Chair of the City of Austin’s 2012 Bond Election Advisory Task Force. He holds an MPA from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, and an AB in Philosophy from Harvard University.

Beth Ann Ray

Beth Ann Ray has been the Vice President, Regional Infrastructure for the Austin Chamber of Commerce since October 2009.  Working with the Chamber’s Transportation Committee, she is responsible for monitoring transportation issues of importance to the business community at the local, regional, state, and federal levels of government and recommending policy and advocacy positions to the Chamber’s Board of Directors for consideration.  Prior to the Chamber, Beth Ann spent 8½ years at AECOM and its legacy company Turner Collie & Braden.  There she held numerous administrative positions with various roles in office management, business development, community relations, and recruiting. In June, the Women’s Transportation Seminar Heart of Texas Chapter recognized Beth Ann as one of the “Leaders for Multimodalism”.