A Message From Mayor Chris Riley

LETTER TO LEON VALLEY CITIZENS

From Mayor Chris Riley

February 6, 2026

                                        COME ONE COME ALL

                  TO THE 16^th Annual Town Hall Meeting!

Saturday, February 7^th - 8:30 am in the Conference Center

     This annual meeting was rescheduled from January 24^th due to extremely cold weather.  If you are unable to attend, this meeting will be live streamed on You Tube. A Community Conversation on Leon Valley’s Financial Future and Infrastructure Priorities presented by City Manager Caldera is scheduled at 10:15 am. Citizens will be asked to prioritize the infrastructure projects listed through a survey using your cell phone.  If you do not have a cell phone, there will be extras available.

      Citizens will be able to view this meeting on-line through February 16th and respond by answering the survey questions on Infrastructure projects. Your input is greatly valued as we move our city forward.

                                          SCHEDULE

 8:30 am –  Welcome, Introductions and Procedures for Meeting -Mayor

                   Riley

8:50 am –   Update on 2025 Town Hall Meeting and Annual Report – Dr.

                   Caldera, City Manager

9:00 am –   Update on the Bandera Road Parkway Plan (410 to 1604)-

                   TXDOT’ Scott Nelson and Richard De La Cruz

9:30 am -    What is STEAR?  State of Texas Emergency Assistance

                   Registry  - Samantha Fabian, Texas Department of Emergency

                   Management

10:15 am – Leon Valley’s Financial Future and Determining Infrastructure

                   Priorities –Dr. Caldera, City Manager

11:45 am – Brainstorming Cost-Effective Ways to Celebrate July 4^th – 250^th

                   Anniversary (after not budgeting July 4^th music/fireworks due to

                   cost)

12:00 pm – Citizens to Be Heard will conclude our town hall meeting to

                   give citizens an opportunity to address council on any

                   concerns/issues not listed on the agenda.  No action can be

taken on citizen concerns other than giving facts/law pertaining to the item.  Council can direct staff to place items on a future agenda for discussion and/or action. If you can only come to one or two discussions, please join us. Hope to see you there!  Refreshments will be served.

                        CITY COUNCIL MEETING –February 3, 2026

          The following are highlights of council actions from the February 3^rd  council meeting which began at 5:45 p.m. and ended at 8:31 p.m.

                                        REGULAR AGENDA

A Public Hearing was Held on Removing Chapter 15 Zoning Planned Development District (PDD) from the City’s Code of Ordinances. (The three new subdivisions in Leon Valley are PDDs). At the January 20^th meeting, removal of the PDD from Chapter 15 was discussed, because of very little undeveloped open space remaining, and the pending update of the City’s Master Plan. It was suggested the Council could use the underlying zoning districts and deal with variances as they are requested. The consensus of the Council was to delete the PDD from Chapter 15 Zoning and to encourage participation by citizens, zoning commission, and city council in the upcoming professionally-led Master Plan process. This item will be placed on the Consent Agenda at the February 17^th council meeting.

                                        EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

1. City Council completed the annual performance evaluation of Dr. Crystal Caldera, City Manager, which was started at the January 20^th meeting.  Councilors Campos and Orozco moved to increase the City Managers base pay by $12,500, a 6.58% increase, beginning on October 1, 2026. Dr. Caldera has not received any increase in pay for two years and does not have an assistant city manager.  Additionally, the manager was granted a two year extension on her current contract, from 2028 to 2030.  Under her new contract, Dr. Caldera’s severance, which was at 1 year, is now reduced to 20 weeks by new state law. Additionally, the Council set 5 goals for the manager for 2026 which will be part of the evaluation in January, 2027.

2. The Council deliberated on purchasing the property at 6908 Poss Road, next to Raymond Rimkus Park, but took no action.

        The next City Council meeting is on Tuesday, February 17^th  at 6:00 pm, due to an executive session.

                                        DID YOU KNOW?

CONGRATULATIONS to David Dimaline and Melinda Moritz from Public Works, who successfully applied for a $1.45 million grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife for the Forest Oaks Pool renovation.  It is a 50/50 grant award in which the City will receive $725,852. The grant contract period is four years from the grant agreement date.  The scope of the project includes: replastering the existing pool, demolish the clubhouse and restrooms, baby pool and sidewalks/pool decking around the pool.  Install new sidewalks, pool decking, pool equipment, restrooms, storage room, lifeguard office, mechanical building, covered pavilion and shade canopies, new fencing and new ADA chair lift.  More information will follow as to the planned changes and when this construction will take place. The clubhouse will not be replaced.

The FY 2025 Sewer Main Replacement Project has begun! The first four streets in Forest Oaks – Forest Brook, Forest Mill, Forest Ridge and Forest Knoll -  will be under construction. The time frame for R L Jones, LP, contractor for completing this first phase is 120 days, weather permitting.

The FY 2025 Water Main Replacement project has begun! A contract for $828,506 has been awarded to EZ Bel Construction to replace water mains on Pickering, Kinman and Rimkus Streets in Seneca West.  The time frame for completing this first phase is 120 days, weather permitting.

March 7^th – 36^th Annual Earthwise Living Day at the Leon Valley Community Center from 9am to 1 pm. Free Admission. There will be approximately 40 booths to visit and learn eco-friendly tips on the environment.  Musical entertainment, food booths, and you can receive a  free bag or water bottle if you visit 8 booths. Fantastic door prizes will be given away at 12:45 pm,  including (2) Spurs basketball tickets, Mission baseball tickets and HEB gift cards.  Mark your calendar and see you there!

Monday, February 16^th is Presidents Day and city hall offices will be closed.

The citizens are at the top of the organizational chart, which means the council and the staff work for you, the citizens. Please do not hesitate to contact anyone of us if we can be of any assistance.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely, Chris

(210) 618-2092 (cell)

mayorriley@leonvalleytexas.gov