A Message From Mayor Chris Riley

LETTER TO LEON VALLEY CITIZENS

From Mayor Chris Riley

August 8, 2025

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN LEON VALLEY   

Saturday, August 9^th – Mobile Pet Clinic providing Low-Cost Pet Vaccinations,  Noon to 4pm, 6400 El Verde Road in the Cul-de-sac behind the police department. No appointment necessary, just show up.

Monday, August 11^th – All Northside School District schools open for the 2025 – 2026 school year. Please watch for students walking near sidewalks and crosswalks; never pass a school bus when its stop sign is opened and please observe all speed limits in school zones.  There will be enforcement. An updated traffic plan for John Marshall High School students: all personal vehicles must use Eckert Road to enter the school, pass in front of the building, and exit back onto Eckert. All School Buses will enter the campus from Huebner Road, proceed through the school, and exit back to Huebner. There is a video on the City of Leon Valley’s website for your review.

        Wishing all students, teachers, administrators and parents a productive and imaginative school year, instilling the love of learning in all students!

CITY COUNCIL MEETING –August 5, 2025

           The following are highlights of council actions from the August 5, 2025 council meeting which began at 6:00 p.m. and ended at 9:40 p.m.

PRESENTATIONS

Discussion and Action on the Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget  & Posting the Proposed Property Tax Rate. A Public Hearing to Adopt the Tax Rate will be held at the August 19^th meeting – The City Council has been discussing the FY 26 Budget for months based on last years tax rate of $.48 cents per $100 valuation.  Preliminarily, the budget was showing a $1.3 million deficit.  The manager recommended many cuts, including eliminating the 4^th of July celebration (with council approval), yet there was still a deficit of approximately $250,000. On August 4^th, Bexar Appraisal District (BAD) raised the no-new revenue rate to $.505.  As a reminder, the no-new revenue rate is calculated by BAD to bring in approximately the same tax revenue as last year.  Due to the loss of market value primarily from multi-family apartments, the rate was raised. At this new calculated rate of $.505, the city still had an operating deficit of $47,214. The council was faced with the choice of finding $47,214 more cuts or raise the tax rate to generate more dollars. Each penny increase to the tax rate will raise approximately $100,000 in new revenue The council directed the manager to increase the tax rate a full penny to $.515, as well as post this number for the public hearing notice at the August 19^th council meeting.  This new rate of $.515 will erase the deficit and leave a small surplus of $64,383.06. If the council were to adopt a ½ penny increase ( tax rate of $.51035), it would erase the deficit and generate a surplus of $9,156.

        What is the fiscal impact on homeowners?  For the average home value of $230,391, this equates to an increase in your taxes of $69.81 per year, or $5.82 per month. Please come to the August 19^th council meeting to give your say on your budget priorities. Thank you to my colleagues, Dr. Caldera and Finance Director Goering, for their efforts in preparing the FY 26 budget.  Also, to all the department directors who cut many items from their budget. We anticipate adopting a balanced budget on August 19, 2025.  

REGULAR AGENDA

On July 15^th Council Initially Approved a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to allow construction and operation of a 160 foot telecommunications tower at 6004 Grissom Road – This agenda item was requested to be withdrawn from the August 5^th  Consent Agenda for further discussion because some Council members heard from citizens who live on El Verde Road that they had not received any written notification of this development, as required.  There were no citizens at the July 15^th public hearing and Council only heard from the Verizon representative who will own the Tower.  On August 5^th, 4 citizens who live on El Verde Road expressed the following concerns: the impact on their property values due to their proximity to the Tower; the tower is an eye sore and too close to a residential area; concern over the air force flight pattern above the tower; and who benefits from this development? They expressed a desire for the Tower to be placed on another lot, but closer to Grissom Road rather than El Verde Road.  The Council moved to expand notification to everyone living within 1,000 feet of this potential development and asked staff to  research answers to the questions posed by citizens.  The Council set this agenda item for a second read, which can involve action, at the September 16^th meeting.

Council Considered Approval of an Ordinance Vacating, Abandoning, and Quitclaiming Samaritan Drive for the Benefit of the Public – The property owners of the new Seneca Trails Subdivision in Seneca West have petitioned the City to close Samaritan Drive and build a new Samaritan Drive closer to the drainage way.  The closure will allow for better circulation, a standard width roadway and new utilities.  Council determined this declaration of abandonment to be in the public’s best interest.  The developer will be responsible for the removal of the existing street and any utilities, as well as construction of the new street and new utilities. Once the city accepts the new street, the city will be responsible for any future maintenance. There were no objections from the attendees at the council meeting. The Council by consensus, placed this item on the August 19th Consent Agenda for the second read to approve this ordinance.

Discussion of an Ordinance Approving a Request for a One Year Extension on a Specific Use Permit (SUP) to Construct a Church and Learning Center located at 5307 Wurzbach Road, in close proximity to The Tower office building at Wurzbach and Bandera roads. This Church (Mosque) and Learning Center was approved by the Council in August, 2024. Since construction of the project is required to begin within one year of approval, the applicant of the property is requesting a one year extension of the SUP.  The applicant explained to the Council the difficulties he was having with drainage and other engineering issues. The property was replatted and recorded in May, 2025.  All project requirements for landscaping, parking and lighting have been met. The Council by consensus, placed this item on the August 19th Consent Agenda for the second read to approve this SUP extension.

Council Approved a Resolution Authorizing Staff to Apply to the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife for a local park grant for renovation of the Forest Oaks Pool. Assistant Director David Dimaline presented a Resolution for Council’s approval to apply for a grant to provide funding to rehab the Forest Oaks Community Pool, originally built in 1965. The grant offers a 50/50 match and staff will submit Concept D developed last year for $1.6 million, leaving the city’s share at approximately $800,000.  Funding sources include the General Fund reserve or bond financing. If this grant is awarded, it would bring the entire facility into ADA (American With Disabilities) standards, as well as repair all  mechanical systems which are in disrepair and/or obsolete. The pool will be replastered in FY 2026.  A formal resolution in support of the funding was unanimously approved by Council.

Discussion of House Bill 1522 which changes the rules for giving notice about public Meetings under the Texas Open Meetings Act – The Legislature changed the rules for giving notice about public meetings from the current 72 hours’ notice to the new rule requiring notice at least three business days before the meeting. This new rule is effective September 1^st and strives to enhance transparency. Additionally, there are new requirements for budget meetings, including providing an online link to the budget and providing a taxpayer impact statement comparing this year’s tax bill with the estimated tax bill for the upcoming fiscal year, based on the median-valued homestead (which we already do). The main difference is we can no longer count holidays and weekends towards the 72 hour notice, so the citizens will see their agenda posted earlier than before.The Council by consensus, placed this item on the August 19th Consent Agenda for the second read to approve this ordinance adopting the new requirements.

          Our next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 19, 2025 beginning at 6:00 pm at city hall.  The Crime Control and Prevention District Board of Directors meeting will be held and FY 26 Budget adopted at this meeting.

DID YOU KNOW?

AT THE AUGUST 19^TH COUNCIL MEETING:  Increased Code Enforcement violations, as well as Transportation violations of parking on your yard and blocking sidewalks will be discussed.  Additionally, an Amended Short Term Rental Ordinance will be reviewed, as well as adoption of the FY 2026 tax rate of our city’s budget.  If you have any questions or concerns on any of these issues, please attend the meeting or contact me or any city councilor.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7^TH – ANNUAL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT – Please mark your calendars to have a simple gathering on your street for an hour or two (6-8 pm). This is a great way to meet your neighbors, your council members, city manager, police and fire department chiefs and staff.

        The Council and I are here to serve you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can help in any way.

Sincerely, Chris

(210) 618-2092 (cell)

mayorriley@leonvalleytexas.gov