A Message From Mayor Chris Riley

LETTER TO LEON VALLEY CITIZENS

From Mayor Chris Riley

April 18, 2025

ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF,

HAPPY EASTER & HAPPY PASSOVER!

City Hall will be open on Friday, April 18^th  (Good Friday), from 8 am to 5 pm for city business.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING –April 15, 2025

      The following are highlights of council actions from the April 15, 2025    council meeting.  The meeting began at 6:00 p.m. with two executive session items. The two topics were concerning the Silos on Huebner Road and Poppy’s Café on Evers Road. No action was taken; informational purposes only.

PRESENTATIONS

Presentation of the 2024 Texas Municipal Library Directors Association (TMLDA) Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award. I presented a plaque from TMLDA to Regina Reed, Library Director, and her library team.  Exceptional service to our community was noted in ten areas. Out of the 542 public library systems in Texas, our library was one of only 102 to earn this award, now in the top 19% of all public libraries in the state.  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

March 31, 2025 Financial Report was presented by Carol Goering, Finance Director. The City is half way through the fiscal year (50% target percentage).  Total Revenue in the General Fund is 71.2% year to date with Expenditures at 37.6% year to date from all departments. In the Water/Sewer/Storm Water Fund, revenue year to date is at 37.4% with Expenditures at 46.1 %.  Community Center, Economic /Community Development, Impound Lot and Red Light Camera Funds revenues/expenditures were all tracking at or under 50% target for the current fiscal year.

REGULAR AGENDA

Public Hearing (2 hours & 45 minutes) and A Vote to Rezone 6.8 acres of land on Sawyer Road from R-1 Single Family To a Planned Development District (PDD) with R-3 Multiple Family Zoning was held. This is the third development in our city from One-Stop Group, LP in the last two years.  The development is to build 145-165 condominiums (for sale) which will exit onto Sawyer Road.  Sawyer road has large R-1 lots and a Buddhist temple, and is one of the last country-like streets in the city. The residents who live in the area expressed concerned about the impact on their quality of life, including increased traffic. The applicant requested six variances, which means he wants Council not to require compliance with six provisions of the city development code.  Examples are increasing the development from 3 stories (allowed) to 4 stories (needs a variance), reduction of landscaping requirements, decrease in square footage of the units by half (1200 to 600 square feet) and reduced minimum set-back requirements between buildings.

      Staff and the City Engineer did not support the variance request to be exempt from minimum setback requirements.  Additionally, concerns to lot size, building heights and fire lanes provided were noted. Moreover, 13 residents from Sawyer Road and Old Mill subdivision expressed multiple concerns over the development, ranging from safety (ingress/egress onto Sawyer Road along a curve); drainage; increased traffic (with an estimated 300 cars exiting the development and driving down Millstream to Huebner Road to get onto Bandera Road); and not enough parking, causing cars to park along Sawyer Road, which is 60 ft wide, but does not have sidewalks or curbs. Two residents expressed support for the development because it will bring in young families and more tax revenue. Overall, the sentiment expressed was the proposed development was too dense.  When asked, the developer would not consider any compromise to shrink his proposed development. The Planning and Zoning Commission previously voted 5-2 to deny the zoning and all variance requests. However, the Council voted to approve the zone change, as well as all the variances requested, by a vote of 4 to 1.

Public Hearing (15 minutes) and Vote to Change Zoning from a Planned Development District with B-3 Commercial District and no Sustainability Zoning to a Planned Development District (PDD) with R-3 Multiple Family Base Zoning on 2.85 acres on Poss Road – This is another development by One- Stop Group, LP, the same developer as the one on Sawyer Road above. One Group, LP, requested approval to build a 145-155 unit apartment complex on Poss Road between Bandera and Grissom Roads. These apartments will be rentals. The developer requested 9 variances, including landscaping reductions, parking reductions, floor space reduction, increasing to 4 stories instead of three, and reducing minimum setbacks between buildings.  Unlike the Sawyer Road development, this apartment complex is located in a business district. There were concerns expressed by a local business owner regarding safety along Poss Road, which has curves and many 18 wheelers delivering to the businesses in the area, plus a day care next door to the development. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the zoning change by a vote of 7-0.  The Council voted unanimously to approve the zone change and all variance requests.

Discussion on an Ordinance to Increase  Water and Sewer Rates and Revise Tier Structures (same as SAWS) and Adjust fees for the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) and TCEQ. At the April 1^st meeting the Council voted to increase water and sewer rates and to change the Leon Valley Water tiers to match SAWS tiers. This ordinance  reflects a five-year phased rate increase, incorporating rising costs from the EAA and TCEQ. The Council also requested the rates be revisited in two years to see if any adjustments are needed (there should be more Leon Valley water customers in the system with all the new development). The new rates are estimated to increase the budget by $1,006,849. A portion of the existing $1 million in capital improvement funds which will be allocated towards financing bonds or grants.  Emergency repairs will be funded through any remaining capital funds. The Council by consensus asked that this item be placed in the Consent Agenda for approval on the May 6^th council agenda.

Council Approved A Resolution Authorizing the Use of Eminent Domain to Acquire a Portion of Zarzamora Creek. A portion of Zarzamora Creek in front of HEB Marketplace is owned by a defunct corporation. Over the years, this area has been severely overgrown and filled with trash and debris. It also has attracted the unhoused, who deposit in the creek hazardous materials and shopping carts. This unkept condition  poses significant health and safety risks and has had a negative impact on nearby businesses. The City has tried over the last 25 years to contact the owner to request remedial actions be taken, but to no avail. Liens have been put on the property when the City cleans and mows the property. Staff recommends the City acquire the property through eminent domain to allow for regular maintenance, including mowing and debris removal and improved stormwater management.  Council unanimously authorized the use of eminent domain to acquire the property for public use.

Discussion of an Ordinance Authorizing a Budget Adjustment for Fiscal Year 2025 from the Economic and Community Development Reserve Fund in the Amount of $8,500 to Provide Funding for a Vehicle for Code Enforcement/Animal Control. The police department purchased a 2018 F-150 using police forfeiture funds for animal control purposes.  Since code enforcement and animal control are now under the Economic Development Director, the forfeiture funds will be reimbursed by the Economic/Community Development Reserve Fund.  The fund has a balance as of 9/30/24 of $925,274, from our 1/8^th cent Community/
Economic Development sales tax. This item will be formally approved at the May 6^th, 2025 council meeting in the consent agenda.

Our next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, 2025 beginning at 6:30 pm at city hall.

Spring has sprung!  The cacti in the Natural Area are blooming! Please do not hesitate to contact me or any councilmember if we can assist you in any way. We are here to serve you.

Sincerely, Chris

(210) 618-2092