Page 10 - 2020 GSABA Housing Forecast Magazine

Focusing on the Future and Celebrating Our Past
Kristi Sutterfield GSABA Executive Vice President
GSABA celebrated its 75th anniversary in2019andIwanttoshareafewofour impressive accomplishments. On the local level, our members were plugged into the City of San Antonio and surrounding cities and counties with our newly formed eleven City Teams to better serve our members. We have been very effective in City Halls within our 22-county jurisdiction and have forged stronger relationships with CPS Energy and the San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS) this past year.
GSABA members attended numerous City Council meetings, met with elected officials and staff, provided testimony at public meetings and hearings, took on the proposed single-family (SF) building moratorium in Cibolo, challenged changes to Unified Development Codes, protested delays in obtaining SF permits and inspections, resolved delay issues with gas meter installations, provided input on sign ordinances and more.
We had over 30 GSABA members attend a meeting with the City of Boerne in November.
We monitor what is happening in Boerne, Bulverde, Cibolo, Converse, Helotes, Live Oak, Schertz, Seguin, Selma, San Antonio and Universal City. If you are interested in joining a City Team, please call me. I want to personally invite you to attend our next local government affairs meeting that will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, February 18th at GSABA immediately following the February Board of Directors meeting.
On the State level, the 86th Legislative Session kicked off on January 8, 2019 and your leadership team along with dozens of GSABA members were engaged at the Texas Capitol. One of the key pieces of legislation passed was House Bill (HB) 852. This bill prevents municipalities from requiring the disclosure of construction cost and sales price as a condition for obtaining a building permit. This information could have led to higher property taxes and inspection fees that exceeded state limitations. We are fortunate to have an incredible Government Affairs leadership team at the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) representing us and fighting for our industry.
Nationally, GSABA members and staff met with our U.S. Representatives in June as part of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Legislative Conference. At that meeting, the leadership passed
an NAHB policy directive that provided their staff support and guidance to avoid federally imposed building code mandates.
Texas will add two House seats, maybe three, to its massive congressional delegation due to the latest population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Texas is one of the fasting growing states with a population just under 29 million people.
We will continue to meet with our local, state and national elected officials and their staffs to keep them apprised of the critical issues facing the homebuilding and remodeling industry. If you have an issue or challenge in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or President Jeff Czar.
The new year is shaping up to be a year of growth and your Association is here to champion the issues affecting you and your business. With homebuilder’s confidence on the rise and construction numbers surpassing expectations, we are focused on the future!
Warm Regards,
Thank You 2020 Housing Forecast Partners
10 2020 HOUSING FORECAST