Photo by Jessica Nohealapa'ahi
July 28, 2023
Bandera EDC discusses wayfinding signs, stray cats and website design
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
As they inch closer to completing the wayfinding signs project, Bandera Economic Development Corporation board members have agreed to move forward with local company CLS Sealcoating and Striping for the installation.
BEDC members reviewed three bids during their regular meeting on Monday, unanimously approving CLS, pending a final estimate to install three signs.
The project is temporarily on hold until City Council members conduct two public meetings, since the final cost will exceed $10,000.
In other business, BEDC board members are in the process of reviewing policies and procedures, including clarifying who may contact their attorney, and whether to launch a website independent of the city.
“The city has made it pretty clear that we would not have access to our portion of the website,” BEDC Board President Andrea Jankoski said, adding City Attorney Dan Santee strongly discouraged joint access to the city website, and advised BEDC members to move forward with their own.
BEDC Board Member Lindsay Barnett motioned for Board Member DeAnna McCabe to procure three estimates for website development, which was unanimously approved.
McCabe said she also wanted to look into the Texas Film Commission - Film Friendly Texas, which certifies communities and matches them with film production-related needs.
“So people who are looking to come to Bandera for filming would pay us,” McCabe said.
Board members postponed action on developing a policy on who may communicate with BEDC Attorney Monte Akers. Every time Akers is contacted is an expense, Board Member Laura Devenport said, however she said she believed each member should have the authority to consult him when necessary.
“If it becomes abusive, we can revisit the policy,” she said.
McCabe and Board Member Alan Arterbury expressed some concern that things could get out of control quickly if each board member contacted the attorney independently, as opposed to authorizing only the board president and/or vice president.
“I think because we are all legally liable for our decisions, we should have a right to talk to the attorney,” Barnett said.
~ Board Member Elaine Good addressed stray cats within the city limits. She said she would like to discuss a possible spay/neuter program during a future meeting.
“There are people who have cats who cannot afford the service. I think it’s something the city and EDC should look into,” Good said, adding she is taking care of three that were dumped by their previous owners.
Devenport said the Hill Country Animal League in Kendall County used to charge $45 for the service, and now the cost is more than $100.
“We have more feral cats than we do people,” Good said. “Now we have roosters walking up and down Pecan Street.”
In response to dogs being reported loose, the city has reopened its animal shelter. Marshal Nancy De Foster said the kennels are cleaned and open. Loose dogs will be picked up, and law enforcement will attempt to locate the owners. De Foster said they would attempt to accommodate cats when necessary.
“We don’t want to turn a blind eye to any animal,” she said. “We’re trying to take responsibility for our jurisdiction and not overburden the county.”
~ Following suit after City Council members changed their regular meetings to the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, board members changed their regular meeting day. Formerly the fourth Monday of each month, the BEDC will now meet on the third Tuesday of each month. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, Aug. 15. A budget workshop is set for Monday, Aug. 14.
BEDC members reviewed three bids during their regular meeting on Monday, unanimously approving CLS, pending a final estimate to install three signs.
The project is temporarily on hold until City Council members conduct two public meetings, since the final cost will exceed $10,000.
In other business, BEDC board members are in the process of reviewing policies and procedures, including clarifying who may contact their attorney, and whether to launch a website independent of the city.
“The city has made it pretty clear that we would not have access to our portion of the website,” BEDC Board President Andrea Jankoski said, adding City Attorney Dan Santee strongly discouraged joint access to the city website, and advised BEDC members to move forward with their own.
BEDC Board Member Lindsay Barnett motioned for Board Member DeAnna McCabe to procure three estimates for website development, which was unanimously approved.
McCabe said she also wanted to look into the Texas Film Commission - Film Friendly Texas, which certifies communities and matches them with film production-related needs.
“So people who are looking to come to Bandera for filming would pay us,” McCabe said.
Board members postponed action on developing a policy on who may communicate with BEDC Attorney Monte Akers. Every time Akers is contacted is an expense, Board Member Laura Devenport said, however she said she believed each member should have the authority to consult him when necessary.
“If it becomes abusive, we can revisit the policy,” she said.
McCabe and Board Member Alan Arterbury expressed some concern that things could get out of control quickly if each board member contacted the attorney independently, as opposed to authorizing only the board president and/or vice president.
“I think because we are all legally liable for our decisions, we should have a right to talk to the attorney,” Barnett said.
~ Board Member Elaine Good addressed stray cats within the city limits. She said she would like to discuss a possible spay/neuter program during a future meeting.
“There are people who have cats who cannot afford the service. I think it’s something the city and EDC should look into,” Good said, adding she is taking care of three that were dumped by their previous owners.
Devenport said the Hill Country Animal League in Kendall County used to charge $45 for the service, and now the cost is more than $100.
“We have more feral cats than we do people,” Good said. “Now we have roosters walking up and down Pecan Street.”
In response to dogs being reported loose, the city has reopened its animal shelter. Marshal Nancy De Foster said the kennels are cleaned and open. Loose dogs will be picked up, and law enforcement will attempt to locate the owners. De Foster said they would attempt to accommodate cats when necessary.
“We don’t want to turn a blind eye to any animal,” she said. “We’re trying to take responsibility for our jurisdiction and not overburden the county.”
~ Following suit after City Council members changed their regular meetings to the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, board members changed their regular meeting day. Formerly the fourth Monday of each month, the BEDC will now meet on the third Tuesday of each month. The next regular meeting will be Tuesday, Aug. 15. A budget workshop is set for Monday, Aug. 14.