San Antonio Movers and Shakers

Weir Labatt 10/29/2011

Business and Civic Leader

Download Link

Mr. Labatt currently serves as a member of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). He was appointed by Governor Rick Perry on February 12, 2002. The TWDB is a six member board that provides leadership, technical services and financial assistance to support planning, conservation and responsible development of water for the State of Texas. The TWDB provides loans and grants totaling approximately $550,000,000 annually for drinking water and waste water projects. In addition, the TWDB is responsible for the statewide water plan as directed by Senate Bill 1, which was passed by the state legislature in 1999. As part of his duties Labatt was appointed by Governor Perry to the Western States Water Council, and is currently serving as chairman. He also represents the TWDB on the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP) Steering Committee.

Mr. Labatt also serves on the Board of Trustees of Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas.

From November 2002 to November 2005 Mr. Labatt served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio (HFHSA), an ecumenical Christian non-profit housing organization working in partnership with God’s people in need to build simple, decent, and affordable houses. Established in 1976, Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio is the first affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, which is based in Americus, Georgia. Habitat for Humanity International seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. In its 29 year history HFHSA has built 448 houses, completing 50 in 2005.

Mr. Labatt served as an elected director of the Edwards Aquifer Authority, a 15 member board, from December 1, 1996 to February 12, 2002 The Authority was created by the Edwards Aquifer Authority Act to implement a specific legislative solution for equitable management of the Edwards Aquifer, a distinctive natural resource and sole source of water for 1.5 million residents of South Central Texas, including the San Antonio area. The Act does not affect groundwater systems in other areas of the state. The Act that created the Edwards Aquifer Authority authorized the Authority to issue permits to regulate groundwater withdrawals from the Aquifer and to implement other management strategies. The Authority’s boundaries include all or parts of eight counties overlying the 176-mile long Aquifer.

Mr. Labatt retired from his position as the Executive Director of the Fire and Police Pension Fund, San Antonio, on October 15, 1999. Mr. Labatt accepted the position in October 1993, after serving almost eight years as Councilman, District 9, for the City of San Antonio. Throughout his tenure as City Councilman, Mr. Labatt served as Board Trustee of the Fire and Police Pension Fund, San Antonio, and as Board Vice-Chairman and Investment Committee Chairman during his most recent years as a Trustee.

Mr. Labatt’s most recent service to the City of San Antonio was his chairmanship of a Solid Waste Advisory Committee whose mission was to recommend a site to the City Council for a Regional Environmental Enterprise Zone (REEZ). After an extensive process to educate and receive public input, the committee, in partnership with three bordering counties appeared before the City Council in January of 1994 with a proposed 5,000 acre site that would take care of the regions solid waste needs for the next 200 years.

As City Councilman, Mr. Labatt represented approximately 85,000 near-north side residents. He was particularly active in the Edwards Aquifer dispute. In recognition or water planning efforts, Mr. Labatt received the 1990 Award of Excellence for Outstanding Service to Planning by an Individual Outside the Planning Profession from the San Antonio Section, American Planning Association. In addition to City Council duties he served as Chairman of the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) and as Chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

Prior to his public service duties, Mr. Labatt served as the first Executive Director of the SAMM Shelter, a 225 bed shelter for the homeless. His business career spanned a 20 year period with Labatt Company, a family owned wholesale grocery firm. Mr. Labatt is a past President of the Fiesta San Antonio Commission and served on the Board of Trustees of Our Lady of the Lake University being honored as a Steward of Higher Education in 1985. He served in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corp for two years after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Mr. Labatt is married and has two children – a daughter who is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and a son who is a graduate of Texas Christian University. Mr. Labatt served as an officer at First Presbyterian Church for 30 years.

Mr. Labatt holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Title: Weir Labatt
Date: 2011-10-29

Hosts,
Bjorn Dybdahl of Bjorn's
John Thurman of Heart of Texas Realty
Scott Woolfolk of Documation