Samsung Electronics has announced today that it will be expanding its operations in Austin, with an expected $3.6 billion direct foreign investment for Phase Two construction of its semiconductor fabrication plant. With the expansion, Samsung is committed to creating 400 to 500 permanent jobs, as well as 1,000 construction jobs for the Austin area. Samsung expects to start construction this summer.

“We’re excited to see that Samsung will be expanding their operations in our great city,” said Mayor Lee Leffingwell. “It’s no secret Austin is a great place to do business, and this type of investment speaks volumes about our city’s attributes as a national and international center of technological innovation.”

According the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Samsung’s investment is the largest private capital investment so far this year, and is among the nation’s ten largest over the last decade. The City’s current economic incentive agreement requires that Samsung invest at least $2.5 billion in their 300 millimeter fabrication facility by December 2010. Samsung met that requirement two years early in December 2008.

At its facility, Samsung plans to manufacture state-of-the-art large-scale integration microchips. These chips are used within a range of technologies, including smart-phones and associated applications. Samsung’s revamped fabrication plant will also serve as a center for the research and development of new, cutting-edge technologies.

The Samsung announcement comes at a time when Austin is continuing to bolster its reputation as a desirable place to live and do business. Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine recently ranked Austin at the top of its list for “Best Cities for the Next Decade” based on criteria such as livability and business environment for entrepreneurs and job seekers.

The inaugural "Night of the Bat" is right around the corner.  For a full schedule of events, visit www.nightofthebat.com. 

Be sure not to miss the matinee screening of "Batman the Movie" at the Paramount Theatre at 2PM, with a special guest appearance by the original Caped Crusader, Adam West.  The 1966 Batmobile - quite possibly the baddest ride ever - will also be on display in front of the theatre during the movie, as well as at the evening Band of Heathens concert on the Congress Avenue Bridge.  Click here for movie tickets!

Mayor Leffingwell served as the keynote speaker at the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution Memorial Day service at the Texas State Cemetary today.  His remarks follow:

Thank you.  I want to thank Katie Thomas and John Knox, and the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, for honoring our fallen heroes on this solemn day.

This place where we stand today is the final resting place for so many men and women who gave, in the words of President Abraham Lincoln, “the last full measure of devotion.”

We stand near 10 Civil War Generals and more than 2000 Confederate soldiers. 

We stand near the Texas Medal of Honor Monument, and 83 Texans who earned the nation’s highest military award, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

We stand near the Gold Star Mothers Memorial honoring the mothers who have lost sons and daughters in combat.

Near the Nine Men of Praha Monument, dedicated on November 11, 2002, in honor of nine men who died during WWII.

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                                                         Click here for full poster...
 

Mayor Lee Leffingwell announced today the Sunday, June 6 "Night of the Bat" lineup that will include a free concert by one of Austin's favorite bands, TV's original Batman and Batmobile, an aerial dance performance, and the nightly flight of 1.5 million bats from under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge.

The family-friendly “Night of the Bat” celebration comes two months after the Austin City Council endorsed Mayor Leffingwell’s proposal to make the Mexican free-tailed bat the city’s official animal and host an annual free summer concert in celebration of the city’s fanged, flying friends.

Popular Austin rockers The Band of Heathens will headline the event, playing an hour-long free concert on the Congress Avenue Bridge, starting at 6:30 p.m. After the bats fly around 8 p.m., the Blue Lapis Light aerial dance troupe will stage a performance on the side of the downtown Hyatt Regency Austin hotel, visible from the bridge.

Before the evening events begin, the Hyatt will also host a free “Fang-Tastic Family Fest” in the hotel parking lot beginning at 3:30 p.m., with performances by the Biscuit Brothers, Joe McDermott and Circus Chicken Dog.   The event will also feature a bat costume contest with cash prize, face painting, inflatable playscape and free “bat dogs.”

TV’s original Batman, Adam West, will kick off the bat festivities at the Paramount Theatre at 2 p.m., making a guest appearance at the matinee screening of the 1966 “Batman: The Movie.” This will be West’s first appearance in Austin since “Batman: The Movie” world premiered at the Paramount Theatre in July 1966. West will also attend the evening concert.

The world’s only screen-accurate replica of one of TV’s most famous cars, the 1966 Batmobile, will also visit Austin as part of the “Night of the Bat” celebration. The car will be on display in front of the Paramount Theatre during the matinee movie screening and on the Congress Avenue Bridge during the evening concert.

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Late on Friday, City Manager Marc Ott provided a response to Mayor Leffingwell's request for more information regarding the City's handling of the KeyPoint report.  The Mayor's memo requesting the information can be seen here, the City Manager's response can be seen here, and the full, unredacted version of the KeyPoint report can be seen here. 

The City Manager and City Law Department will present the information and answer additional questions from the City Council regarding the KeyPoint report at this Thursday's Council meeting.

This morning, Mayor Leffingwell testifed before the Texas State Senate Commitee on Business and Commerce regarding the recent passage of Austin Energy's generation plan.  The commitee is chaired by Republican Senator Troy Fraser of Horseshoe Bay.  The text of the mayor's testimony follows:

Good morning Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. I’m Lee Leffingwell, mayor of Austin, and I’m joined here today by Robert Goode, Interim General Manager of Austin Energy.

As Mr. Zion pointed out, Austin Energy is owned and operated by the City of Austin, and governed by the Austin City Council.  We serve an area of about 440 square miles, and about 410,000 customers in Austin and central Texas. 

Austin Energy is the nation’s 9^th largest municipally owned electric utility, with about $3.6 billion in assets and about $1.3 billion in annual revenues. We have very high, stable and positive bond ratings by the 3 major rating agencies.

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Just a really cool pic, that's all.
 

                                                Photo credit: James F. Bossenbroek

Last November, in an effort to improve transparency at City Hall, the Austin City Council unanimously passed a resolution establishing a new, earlier deadline for Council Members to publicly post meeting agenda items.  This morning, the Council unanimously approved an amendment to the November resolution allowing Council members to add meeting agenda items after the new posting deadline by certifying them as time sensitive.  This step honors the Council's earlier commitment to transparency while providing a mechanism for the Council to consider items that may be immediately critical to the interests of the community. 

The text of today's resolution follows:

WHEREAS, it is in the public’s best interest to have as much advanced notice of proposed council action as possible; and

WHEREAS, on November 19, 2009, City Council passed Resolution No. 20091119-060, which resulted in implementation of early posting of draft Council agendas and backup information; and

WHEREAS, by passing Resolution No. 20091119-060, City Council members agreed to provide the City Manager’s Agenda Office with “Items From Council” no later than six business days in advance of each regularly scheduled Council meeting; and

WHEREAS, the City must, at a minimum, comply with the notice requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: The sponsor of any Item From Council provided to the Agenda Office after the sixth business day in advance of each regularly scheduled Council meeting shall certify that the Item From Council is time sensitive, defined as being immediately critical to the interests of the City;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The City Manager is directed to create a form for City Council members to certify an Item From Council is time sensitive;

BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED: Items From Council provided to the Agenda Office should include both posting language and a draft resolution.

“The Austin City Council was advised by the City Attorney several months ago that the unredacted version of the KeyPoint report was not legally available to the Council for review.  As such, the Council remained unaware of the full details of the report until they appeared in the media.  Like everyone, I’m troubled by the findings of the report, and intend to review the matter fully with the City Manager and Police Chief.”