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August 13, 2024
Notes from Bandera City Council
Council discusses City Park project, a parking lot agreement, house numbers
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Plans are steadily moving forward with a project set to improve flooding drainage and upgrade Bandera City Park. The $5.4 million operation, which was started in 2019, will be paid in part by a grant from the Texas Water Development Board Flood Infrastructure Fund.
Plans include drainage improvements from Pecan Street to Main Street, and Cedar Street to Maple Street, as well as protecting riparian health, reducing erosion and stabilizing the river bank in the park.
The team is staying true to the original intent of design and conception, Ardurra Project Engineer Jonathan Teafatiller told council members last Tuesday. After conferring with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Texas Historical Commission to get an environmental review and clearance, Teafatiller said the project is “100 percent ready to go out to bid.”
He said he expects to make a recommendation by the end of this year, or beginning of 2025.
~ In other business, council approved making a counter offer for shared use of a parking lot at the corner of 11th and Cedar Streets. The city has been in negotiations with the Bandera Methodist Church for an agreement granting public access to the parking lot Monday through Saturday.
The church proposed a $500 per month rental fee, backdated to January 2024, claiming the money was needed to cover maintenance costs. Several years ago, the Bandera Economic Development Corporation invested $50,000 to construct the parking lot, for the purpose of it being mutually beneficial, Mayor Rebeca Gibson said. After both the city and church neglected to perform annual maintenance, the city last year contributed $10,000 to help pay for overdue repairs.
City Administrator Stan Farmer said the church was amenable to a semi-annual review of work done to the parking lot in the interest of transparency, but the board was not in agreement to refund any moneys not spent on maintenance.
“How often are they going to have to repave that parking lot? It’s not that big,” Council Member Debbie Breen said. “If it was $300 per month, then great…but $500 is ridiculous.”
City Attorney Dan Santee said the monthly amount could be reviewed at renewal, also stating the rental money could be placed in an escrow account that the city would have access to and could audit.
Council unanimously approved offering $300 per month, backdated to January, for the remainder of the contract year.
~ Following a request by Council Member Lynn Palmer and Josie Evans, the city’s Public Works Department widened the City Park entrances to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs while the park gates are closed.
~ After emergency services told her they sometimes have difficulty finding homes without properly displayed house numbers, Palmer asked about enforcement of Ordinance 342, Article 3.05, requiring house numbers, as well as possible solutions for those not in compliance.
Farmer said City Code Enforcement Officer Jon Davis went door to door to inform homeowners they needed to comply, and those to whom he did not speak were mailed letters - about 40 were sent.
“The letter is a notification, not yet a warning,” Farmer said.
Gibson said the ordinance grants the city permission to install the numbers at residences, then later bill the homeowner.
The ordinance requires house numbers be no less than three inches tall, be visible up to 150 feet from all angles and clear of obstructions, and be visible at night.
~ Council approved a request from the Bandera City Marshal to purchase six new Body Worn Cameras with supplemental equipment, totaling $6,499. Currently, the Marshal’s Office has two BWCs and one demo camera.
Farmer said the money is in the budget, but the marshal required council approval as it exceeds $5,000.
~ Council will hold a public hearing on the 2024-25 tax rate, budget, utility rates and fee schedule, tonight, at 5:30 p.m., at City Hall. A regular meeting will follow at 6 p.m.
Plans include drainage improvements from Pecan Street to Main Street, and Cedar Street to Maple Street, as well as protecting riparian health, reducing erosion and stabilizing the river bank in the park.
The team is staying true to the original intent of design and conception, Ardurra Project Engineer Jonathan Teafatiller told council members last Tuesday. After conferring with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Texas Historical Commission to get an environmental review and clearance, Teafatiller said the project is “100 percent ready to go out to bid.”
He said he expects to make a recommendation by the end of this year, or beginning of 2025.
~ In other business, council approved making a counter offer for shared use of a parking lot at the corner of 11th and Cedar Streets. The city has been in negotiations with the Bandera Methodist Church for an agreement granting public access to the parking lot Monday through Saturday.
The church proposed a $500 per month rental fee, backdated to January 2024, claiming the money was needed to cover maintenance costs. Several years ago, the Bandera Economic Development Corporation invested $50,000 to construct the parking lot, for the purpose of it being mutually beneficial, Mayor Rebeca Gibson said. After both the city and church neglected to perform annual maintenance, the city last year contributed $10,000 to help pay for overdue repairs.
City Administrator Stan Farmer said the church was amenable to a semi-annual review of work done to the parking lot in the interest of transparency, but the board was not in agreement to refund any moneys not spent on maintenance.
“How often are they going to have to repave that parking lot? It’s not that big,” Council Member Debbie Breen said. “If it was $300 per month, then great…but $500 is ridiculous.”
City Attorney Dan Santee said the monthly amount could be reviewed at renewal, also stating the rental money could be placed in an escrow account that the city would have access to and could audit.
Council unanimously approved offering $300 per month, backdated to January, for the remainder of the contract year.
~ Following a request by Council Member Lynn Palmer and Josie Evans, the city’s Public Works Department widened the City Park entrances to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs while the park gates are closed.
~ After emergency services told her they sometimes have difficulty finding homes without properly displayed house numbers, Palmer asked about enforcement of Ordinance 342, Article 3.05, requiring house numbers, as well as possible solutions for those not in compliance.
Farmer said City Code Enforcement Officer Jon Davis went door to door to inform homeowners they needed to comply, and those to whom he did not speak were mailed letters - about 40 were sent.
“The letter is a notification, not yet a warning,” Farmer said.
Gibson said the ordinance grants the city permission to install the numbers at residences, then later bill the homeowner.
The ordinance requires house numbers be no less than three inches tall, be visible up to 150 feet from all angles and clear of obstructions, and be visible at night.
~ Council approved a request from the Bandera City Marshal to purchase six new Body Worn Cameras with supplemental equipment, totaling $6,499. Currently, the Marshal’s Office has two BWCs and one demo camera.
Farmer said the money is in the budget, but the marshal required council approval as it exceeds $5,000.
~ Council will hold a public hearing on the 2024-25 tax rate, budget, utility rates and fee schedule, tonight, at 5:30 p.m., at City Hall. A regular meeting will follow at 6 p.m.