On Sunday, October 2, a delegation of more than 100 elected officials, business and community leaders and Chamber staff members will head to Denver for the Chamber's annual InterCity visit. The purpose of this trip is to learn from a city that is often compared to Austin.

The delegation will hear and discuss issues that Denver has already addressed on both local and regional levels that are similar to issues facing the Austin region. For example, the delegation will discuss "Lessons Learned on a Toll Road" with Jack Nicholls, Program Manager for Parsons Brinckerhoff which operates, manages and maintains toll road activities on E-470. Another important topic will be the creation of a new neighborhood of homes, shops, offices, parks and schools on the site of Denver's old Stapleton airport—a project similar to the Mueller redevelopment.

Other discussion topics will include the public library system, police-community relations, the arts, reinventing high school education and downtown development. In addition, there will be an extensive series of meetings regarding regional transportation and its impact on economic development and land use.

The delegation will depart from ABIA at 9:50 a.m. on Sunday, October 2, on Continental Flight #440. The group will meet at the Continental Airlines counter at 8:30 a.m. The delegation will return at 9:58 a.m. on Tuesday, October 4, on Continental Flight #1533. If you wish to interview delegates, please notify Amanda Sablatura so arrangements can be made.

Elected officials who are participating in the InterCity visit include State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, State Reps. Mike Krusee and Mark Strama, Austin Mayor Will Wynn, San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz, Pflugerville Mayor Cat Callen, Leander Mayor John Cowman, Austin City Council Members Brewster McCracken and Betty Dunkerley, and Austin City Manager Toby Futrell.