City Council

MINUTES REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING RONALD C. BOWMAN CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 447 North Main Street Boerne, TX 78006 SEPTEMBER 23, 2025 – 6:00 PM Minutes of the Regular Called City Council Meeting of September 23, 2025. Present: 6- Mayor Frank Ritchie, Mayor Pro Tem Ty Wolosin, Council Member Joe Bateman, Council Member Kyle Mickelsen, Council Member Bret A. Bunker, and Council Member Joseph Macaluso Staff Present: Ben Thatcher, Siria Arreola, Sarah Buckelew, Jeff Carroll, Lori Carroll, Nathan Crane, Maria Garcia, Mike Mann, Mick McKamie, Steve Perez, Mike Raute, James Schmidt, Chris Shadrock, Kristy Stark, Mary Woods, Larry Woods, and Danny Zincke. Recognized / Registered Guests: Sue Ecklin, LaRae Fioresi, Anne Ecklin, Lance Kyle, Paula Rieker, Brenda Leal, Greg Proulx, Michael Davis, Susan and Skipper Nelson, Margaret Shawver, Cheryl Vita, Kristy Ackerman, Bryan Ackerman, Alex Rudd, and Brian Gilroy. 1. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 PM Mayor Ritchie called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Ritchie provided the Invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag and to the Texas Flag. 2. ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE – KYLE MICKELSEN, COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 3 Mayor Ritchie called on Lori Carroll, City Secretary to administer the Oath of Office to Kyle Mickelsen. City of Boerne Page 1 City Council Official Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 3. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST No conflicts were declared. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Lance Kyle, 226 Cascade Caverns Road spoke regarding concerns with the Buc-ee's development. Susan Ecklin, 402 Whitworth Road spoke regarding concerns with the Buc-ee's development. Brian Gilroy, 35 Old San Antonio Road spoke regarding his property adjacent to the Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Center expressing concerns with flooding and odor. Paula Rieker, 101 Creek Springs spoke regarding concerns with the Buc-ee's development. Brenda Leal, 408 Oak Park spoke regarding concerns with the Buc-ee's development. Alex Rudd, 68 La Cancion spoke regarding concerns with the Buc-ee's development. Kristy Ackerman, 623 Menger Springs spoke regarding concerns with the Buc-ee's development. 5. CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed below within the Consent Agenda are considered to be routine by the City Council and may be enacted with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of items unless a Council Member or citizen so requests, in which event the item may be moved to the general order of business and considered in its normal sequence. City of Boerne Page 2 City Council Official Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUNKER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MACALUSO TO APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yeah: 5 - Mayor Pro Tem Wolosin, Council Member Bateman, Council Member Mickelsen, Council Member Bunker, and Council Member Macaluso A. CONSIDER THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2025. THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED. B. CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R68; A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AND MANAGE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOERNE AND CITY OF FAIR OAKS RANCH FOR THE USE OF THE CITY OF BOERNE ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY. THE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED. C. CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R69; A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BOERNE AND AXON ENTERPRISE, INC. FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES TO BE USED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING BODY CAMERAS, TASERS, DASH CAMERAS, ALPR SYSTEMS, INTERVIEW ROOM RECORDING, DRONE SERVICES, AND AI TOOLS. THE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED. D. CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R70; A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE NETWORK SWITCHES AND FIREWALLS FROM GREAT SOUTH TEXAS CORP DBA COMPUTER SOLUTIONS FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $202,027.96. (City Network Infrastructure refresh) THE RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED. REGULAR AGENDA: 6. RESOLUTIONS: City of Boerne Page 3 City Council Official Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 A. CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R71; A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CITY OF BOERNE INVESTMENT POLICY AND BROKER-DEALER LIST. Mayor Ritchie called on Finance Director Sarah Buckelew to present the City’s Investment Policy and Broker-Dealer list. Director Buckelew reported that there are no changes to the Investment Policy, which has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Texas Public Funds Investment Act. She further explained that the Broker-Dealer list includes those firms providing services to the City and that each must agree to comply with the requirements of both the Public Funds Investment Act and the City’s Investment Policy. A MOTION WAS MADE BY MAYOR PRO TEM WOLOSIN, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUNKER TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R71; A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CITY OF BOERNE INVESTMENT POLICY AND BROKER-DEALER LIST. THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yeah: 5 - Mayor Pro Tem Wolosin, Council Member Bateman, Council Member Mickelsen, Council Member Bunker, and Council Member Macaluso B. CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R72; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOERNE, TEXAS, ADOPTING REVISIONS TO THE PROCUREMENT POLICY TO ALIGN WITH CHANGES MADE TO THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING THRESHOLD. Director Buckelew stated that, due to Senate Bill 1173 approved by the 89th Texas Legislature, it is necessary to update the City’s Procurement Policy to ensure alignment with the legislative changes. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER BATEMAN, SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM WOLOSIN TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R72; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOERNE, TEXAS, ADOPTING REVISIONS TO THE PROCUREMENT POLICY TO ALIGN WITH CHANGES MADE TO THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING THRESHOLD. THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: City of Boerne Page 4 City Council Official Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Yeah: 5 - Mayor Pro Tem Wolosin, Council Member Bateman, Council Member Mickelsen, Council Member Bunker, and Council Member Macaluso C. CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R73; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOERNE, TEXAS, DIRECTING THE CLOSEOUT OF YEAR-END SURPLUSES. Director Buckelew stated that agenda items C and D would be discussed together since they are related. She explained that each year the city closes its financial records, and any year-end surpluses in the General Fund and Utility Funds are applied to the FY 2026 budget. This ensures that one-time surpluses are allocated toward capital improvements and long-term projects rather than ongoing operations. The proposed revisions to the Financial Management Policy clarifies this standard practice. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER BUNKER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MACALUSO TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R73; A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOERNE, TEXAS, DIRECTING THE CLOSEOUT OF YEAR-END SURPLUSES. THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yeah: 5 - Mayor Pro Tem Wolosin, Council Member Bateman, Council Member Mickelsen, Council Member Bunker, and Council Member Macaluso D. CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R74; A RESOLUTION ADOPTING REVISIONS TO THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICY TO ALIGN WITH BEST PRACTICES AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER MACALUSO, SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM WOLOSIN TO APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. 2025-R74; A RESOLUTION ADOPTING REVISIONS TO THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICY TO ALIGN WITH BEST PRACTICES AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. THE MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yeah: 5 - Mayor Pro Tem Wolosin, Council Member Bateman, Council Member Mickelsen, Council Member Bunker, and Council Member Macaluso City of Boerne Page 5 City Council Official Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 7. OTHER: A. DISCUSSION ON STIPENDS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. Mayor Ritchie asked City Manager Ben Thatcher to present information on City Council Member stipends. Mr. Thatcher reviewed the history of city council stipends dating back to 1925 and provided comparisons with other cities. He noted that any increase would not take effect until after the next election of the mayor and council members. The Council reached a consensus to move forward with an increase, with further discussion scheduled for the second council meeting in October which will be a special called meeting on October 27. B. PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED UPDATES TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE. Mayor Ritchie called on Nathan Crane, Planning Director. Director Crane provided proposed updates to the Unified Development Code (UDC) which primarily focus on the compliance with recently adopted legislation. These changes will need to go before the Planning and Zoning Commission before the City Council may take action. 8. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: Mayor Ritchie called on City Manager Ben Thatcher. A. RECOGNIZING LARRY WOODS - 2025 RECIPIENT OF THE MARION SZUREK LEADERSHIP AWARD. City Manager Thatcher recognized Larry Woods, Director of Visit Boerne, for receiving the Marion Szurek Leadership Award, which honors significant contributions in marketing, advertising, and tourism development. Director Woods shared additional details about the award with the Council. B. FINAL WRAP-UP OF THE 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. City of Boerne Page 6 City Council Official Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 Assistant City Manager Kristy Stark presented highlights from the Special Session, summarizing key legislation impacting cities, including bills that were approved and those that did not pass. C. MONTHLY PROJECTS REPORT. City Manager Thatcher provided the status on various city projects. 9. COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL – No discussion or action may take place. Mayor Pro Tem Wolosin noted that the Texas Craft Brewers Guild will hold their next “roundup” meeting at The Bevy in Boerne. The Guild hosts two meetings each year, with their annual conference in Austin; next year’s roundup meeting will bring brewers from across the state to Boerne. He also addressed a social media post claiming a 45% increase in water rates. The individual who made the post was in attendance earlier but had since left. Staff had previously explained the rate increase in detail, clarifying that the 45% hike applies only to high water users. Mayor Pro Tem Wolosin reminded the audience not to assume social media posts are accurate. Council Member Macaluso added that for the average homeowner, the water rate increase is minimal-approximately 1%. 10. EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE: Mayor Ritchie convened the City Council into Executive Session at 7:42 p.m. No action was taken. A. SECTION 551.071 - CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY ON A MATTER FOR WHICH IT IS THE DUTY OF THE CITY ATTORNEY City of Boerne Page 7 City Council Official Meeting Minutes September 23, 2025 UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT CONFLICT WITH THIS CHAPTER AND REQUIRES DISCUSSION OF THE ITEM IN CLOSED SESSION, REGARDING COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS. No action was taken. 11. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AND TAKE ANY NECESSARY ACTION RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. Mayor Ritchie reconvened the City Council into Open Session at 8:43 p.m. No action was taken. 12. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Ritchie adjourned the meeting at 8:43 p.m. Approved: ___________________________ Mayor Attest: _______________________________ City Secretary City of Boerne Page 8