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July 27, 2022
City discusses 11th Street parking lot; repairing city streets; future raindance
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera City Council members tabled discussion on whether to renew a 20-year lease with the Methodist Church to share its parking lot, and how to handle repairs if they do.
Last month, council members were made aware of several repairs needed to fix damaged and aged asphalt, and restriping required to accommodate handicapped parking. The city is due to renew its lease with the church in July 2023, though both parties concurred neither had fully complied with the current lease agreement.
“The parking lot is 20 years old. It is weathered and dried out. We together have not maintained it to the extent that it should have been,” Don Giles, speaking on behalf of the Methodist Church, said in June. “Not only does the parking lot need serious attention, we are also out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
Giles said the city and church are supposed to meet annually to discuss the lot’s condition, which they collectively have not done. He said church trustees intended to meet and discuss lease renewal options, and if the church took on the full responsibility and expense of repairing the parking lot, the costs incurred could be incorporated into a monthly rent paid by the city.
“We together have not complied with the lease,” Giles said, adding extensive repairs and conditioning are a shared responsibility.
Giles said he received an estimate of $8,000 to sealcoat the parking lot surface. Mayor Suzanne Schauman said she would ask the city’s public works department to review.
“We’ve never really met the terms of the lease agreement on either side,” Mayor Pro Tem Rebeca Gibson said Tuesday night, acting in Schauman’s absence.
Gibson and Council Member Darcy Hasty suggested the conversation would be better served if a church representative was present at the meeting.
“How will we have a workshop without them here,” Hasty said, adding it seemed the church was strongly leaning toward completing the work with or without the city’s involvement.
Council Member Toni Kunz said she would like to approach the city’s Economic Development Corporation for potential funding, with the caveat that the city renews an extended 20-year lease.
“We need that parking lot. We use it all the time, and the parking lot next to Stein’s,” Kunz said. “I would like to see us renew and take the responsibility of redoing both parking lots. It definitely impacts our businesses and economy.”
EDC Member and Board President Jerad Wilcox said he had spoken with the Public Works Department and received quotes to fix potholes.
“We’re willing to pay that to repair our parking lot,” Wilcox said, adding sales tax dollars, not property taxes, would fund the project. “We realize it’s such a vital piece of free city parking.”
Hasty’s motion to table discussion until a member of the Methodist Church could attend was unanimously approved.
~In other business, Jonathan Teafatiller from Ardurra said the Street Project was in the two-week bidding process. He said bids would be opened this week at City Hall for work to be done on 11th, 13th, Cedar, Hackberry, Mulberry and Montague Streets.
~ Following an executive session, council unanimously approved a resolution adopting an interlocal agreement with Bandera County to provide subdivision regulation in the city’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).
~ On Aug. 20, a raindance will be hosted on Hackberry Street. During the public forum, Karen Osman said the Polish and Native American raindance songs and dances would be performed, in addition to the recital of Native American prayers.
“The purpose behind it is to do something different with the community,” Osman said. “Invite everybody and share in the very one thing everybody is asking for, which is more rain.”
Last month, council members were made aware of several repairs needed to fix damaged and aged asphalt, and restriping required to accommodate handicapped parking. The city is due to renew its lease with the church in July 2023, though both parties concurred neither had fully complied with the current lease agreement.
“The parking lot is 20 years old. It is weathered and dried out. We together have not maintained it to the extent that it should have been,” Don Giles, speaking on behalf of the Methodist Church, said in June. “Not only does the parking lot need serious attention, we are also out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
Giles said the city and church are supposed to meet annually to discuss the lot’s condition, which they collectively have not done. He said church trustees intended to meet and discuss lease renewal options, and if the church took on the full responsibility and expense of repairing the parking lot, the costs incurred could be incorporated into a monthly rent paid by the city.
“We together have not complied with the lease,” Giles said, adding extensive repairs and conditioning are a shared responsibility.
Giles said he received an estimate of $8,000 to sealcoat the parking lot surface. Mayor Suzanne Schauman said she would ask the city’s public works department to review.
“We’ve never really met the terms of the lease agreement on either side,” Mayor Pro Tem Rebeca Gibson said Tuesday night, acting in Schauman’s absence.
Gibson and Council Member Darcy Hasty suggested the conversation would be better served if a church representative was present at the meeting.
“How will we have a workshop without them here,” Hasty said, adding it seemed the church was strongly leaning toward completing the work with or without the city’s involvement.
Council Member Toni Kunz said she would like to approach the city’s Economic Development Corporation for potential funding, with the caveat that the city renews an extended 20-year lease.
“We need that parking lot. We use it all the time, and the parking lot next to Stein’s,” Kunz said. “I would like to see us renew and take the responsibility of redoing both parking lots. It definitely impacts our businesses and economy.”
EDC Member and Board President Jerad Wilcox said he had spoken with the Public Works Department and received quotes to fix potholes.
“We’re willing to pay that to repair our parking lot,” Wilcox said, adding sales tax dollars, not property taxes, would fund the project. “We realize it’s such a vital piece of free city parking.”
Hasty’s motion to table discussion until a member of the Methodist Church could attend was unanimously approved.
~In other business, Jonathan Teafatiller from Ardurra said the Street Project was in the two-week bidding process. He said bids would be opened this week at City Hall for work to be done on 11th, 13th, Cedar, Hackberry, Mulberry and Montague Streets.
~ Following an executive session, council unanimously approved a resolution adopting an interlocal agreement with Bandera County to provide subdivision regulation in the city’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).
~ On Aug. 20, a raindance will be hosted on Hackberry Street. During the public forum, Karen Osman said the Polish and Native American raindance songs and dances would be performed, in addition to the recital of Native American prayers.
“The purpose behind it is to do something different with the community,” Osman said. “Invite everybody and share in the very one thing everybody is asking for, which is more rain.”