City Council

FINAL - MINUTES OF THE NEW BRAUNFELS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OF MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2025 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Linnartz called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. CALL OF ROLL: CITY SECRETARY Mayor Pro Tem Campos arrived at 6:52 p.m. Present: 7 - Mayor Neal Linnartz, Mayor Pro Tem Andres Campos, Councilmember Christopher Willis, Councilmember D. Lee Edwards, Councilmember Lawrence Spradley, Councilmember Mary Ann Labowski, and Councilmember April Ryan REQUEST ALL PHONES AND OTHER DEVICES BE TURNED OFF, EXCEPT EMERGENCY ON-CALL PERSONNEL. INVOCATION: COUNCILMEMBER LABOWSKI Councilmember Labowski provided the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & SALUTE TO THE TEXAS FLAG Mayor Linnartz led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Salute to the Texas Flag. PRESENTATIONS: A) Presentation and recognition of Sgt. Blake Alexius’ retirement. Mayor Linnartz read the aforementioned presentation. Chief Flores introduced Sgt. Blake Alexius and recognized his retirement with over twenty years of service. Sgt. Blake Alexius addressed council. B) Presentation and recognition of Jean Drew’s retirement. Mayor Linnartz read the aforementioned presentation. Christopher Looney introduced Jean Drew and recognized her retirement. Jean Drew addressed council. C) Presentation and recognition of Amber Kearney Lee, CCEO, Sr Code Monday, March 24, 2025 New Braunfels City Council Regular Meeting  Compliance Officer, as the State of Texas Reggie Jackson Officer of the Year award recipient. Mayor Linnartz read the aforementioned presentation. Christopher Looney introduced Amber Kearney Lee and presented her Officer of the Year award. Amber Kearney Lee addressed council. CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS This time is for citizens to address the City Council on issues and items of concerns not on this agenda. There will be no City Council action at this time. In the interest of protecting the City's network and data, the City is not accepting flash drives or electronic files for use during Citizens Communications. Please use hard copies, the overhead projector or access the City’s online digital form to upload electronic files you would like the Mayor and Council to view. The digital form would need to be uploaded two (2) hours prior to the City Council meeting. A link to this form can be accessed on the City Secretary’s website. Individuals desiring to speak at citizen's communications should line up behind the podium and be ready to speak. The following individuals spoke at this time: Susie Mitchell, Rene Walker Sanchez, Sarah Phipps, and Bentley Paiz 1. CONSENT AGENDA All items listed below are considered to be routine and non-controversial by the City Council and will be approved by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Councilmember or citizen so requests, in which case the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered as part of the normal order of business. Citizens must be present to pull an item. Action Items A) Approval of the minutes for the regular and executive session council meetings on March 10, 2025 and the special council meeting minutes on March 17, 2025. B) Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of New Braunfels and Comal County Water Recreation District #1 regarding the reimbursement for the construction of a permanent silt fence and authorizing the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding. C) Approval of a purchase with FarrWest Environmental Supply, Inc. for a Monday, March 24, 2025 New Braunfels City Council Regular Meeting  gas/vapor monitoring system for the New Braunfels Fire Department using funding provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, State Homeland Security Program - Regular Projects grant for Program Year 2024. D) Approval of a release and settlement agreement with Yosso Group, Inc., dba Spec Play related to playground equipment at Fischer Park, and authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement. E) Approval of a contract with Chain Electric for fiber construction and termination to Mission Hill Park. F) Approval for a budget amendment to the Grant Fund, and approval of a purchase from Loadometer Corporation for drive over scales for commercial motor vehicles for the New Braunfels Police Department using funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program for Program Year 2025. G) Approval of a contract with Data Projections, Inc. for installation, configuration and support of a new audio/visual and broadcast system in Council Chambers, Executive and Tejas Conference Rooms. H) Approval of the City of New Braunfels FY 2025 First Quarter Investment Report. I) Approval of a contract with Tip Top Cleaners to provide professional uniform cleaning services for the City of New Braunfels. J) Approval of an additional project contingency for the Last Tuber’s Exit Project and authorization for the City Manager to execute any change orders and project expenditures up to the contingency amount. Ordinances (In accordance with Section 3.10 of the City Charter, a descriptive caption of each ordinance shall be read on two separate days.) K) Approval of the first reading of an ordinance to amend Section 126-367 and Section 126-369 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of New Braunfels to revise passenger and freight loading zones to be tow-away zones. L) Approval of the first reading of an ordinance to amend Section 126-346 and Section 86-7 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Monday, March 24, 2025 New Braunfels City Council Regular Meeting  New Braunfels to revise no parking zones in Cypress Bend Park. M) Approval of the first reading of an ordinance to amend Section 126-136 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of New Braunfels to revise the bounds of the school zones for Lone Star Early Childhood Center. Approval of the Consent Agenda Mayor Linnartz read the aforementioned consent agenda. Councilmember Spradley made a motion to approve the consent agenda. Councilmember Labowski seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Campos 2. INDIVIDUAL ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION Individuals desiring to speak to any individual item should line up behind the podium and be ready to speak when public comment is recognized. A) Discuss and consider the acceptance of the FY 2024 Audit and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report performed by Crowe, LLP. Mayor Linnartz read the aforementioned item. Sandy Paulos introduced this item to council and Daniel Hebert of Crow LLP, who presented this item to council. The following individuals spoke at this time: David Warmke Councilmember Spradley motioned to approve this item. Councilmember Ryan seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Absent: Mayor Pro Tem Campos B) Discuss and consider approval of the first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 126 of the Code of Ordinances by adopting a civil parking enforcement program that applies to violations related to paid public parking spaces including fines, hearings, appeals, vehicle immobilization or impoundment for delinquent accounts, and criminal penalties for impeding enforcement of this ordinance. Monday, March 24, 2025 New Braunfels City Council Regular Meeting  Mayor Linnartz read the aforementioned item. Jeff Jewell presented this item using a powerpoint presentation and introduced Val Acevedo who also presented this item and answered questions. The following individuals spoke at this time: David Warmke Councilmember Labowski motioned to approve this item. Councilmember Ryan seconded the motion which passed unanimously. C) Public hearing and first reading of an ordinance regarding the proposed rezoning of approximately 0.2 acres, Unicorn Heights N.W. Extension, Block 2, Lot 7, from R-2 (Single-Family and Two-Family District) to C-O (Commercial Office District), currently addressed at 1156 Magazine Ave. Mayor Linnartz read the aforementioned item. Matthew Simmont presented this item using a powerpoint presentation and introduced the applicants Deanna Timmons and Blake Timmons who also addressed council and answered questions. Councilmember Ryan motioned to approve this item. Councilmember Labowski seconded the motion which passed unanimously. D) Public hearing and first reading of an ordinance regarding the proposed rezoning of approximately 8.4 acres, from R-2 (Single-Family and Two-Family District) to C-1B (General Business District), currently addressed at 3119 IH 35 S. Mayor Linnartz read the aforementioned item. Matthew Simmont presented this item using a powerpoint presentation and introduced applicant Matt Fortner who also presented to council and answered questions. Mayor Pro Tem Campos motioned to approve this item. Councilmember Ryan seconded the motion which passed unanimously. E) Public hearing and consideration of an amendment to the Veramendi Sector Plan 3 within Precinct 16-2, related to Comal County Flowage Monday, March 24, 2025 New Braunfels City Council Regular Meeting  Easement. Mayor Linnartz read the aforementioned item. Christopher Looney presented this item using a powerpoint presentation and introduced the applicant who answered questions. Mayor Linnartz noted staff recommends approval on the contingency that an updated exhibit map and revised development and design control document is submitted to staff by the requestor. Councilmember Labowski motioned to approve this item with staff recommendations. Councilmember Spradley seconded the motion which passed unanimously. 3. EXECUTIVE SESSION In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Ch. 551.071, the City Council may convene in a closed session to discuss any of the items listed on this agenda. Any final action or vote on any executive session item will be taken in open session. A) Deliberate pending/contemplated litigation, settlement offer(s), and matters concerning privileged and unprivileged client information deemed confidential by Rule 1.05 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct in accordance with Section 551.071, of the Texas Government Code, including but not limited to: · Specplay Equipment Co. and A-OK Playgrounds, LLC The aforementioned item took place in executive session. 4. IF NECESSARY, RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AND TAKE ANY ACTION RELATING TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. No action was taken at this time. Monday, March 24, 2025 New Braunfels City Council Regular Meeting ADJOURNMENT Mayor Linnartz adjourned at 7:07 p.m. By: ______________________________ NEAL LINNARTZ, MAYOR Attest: _________________________________ GAYLE WILKINSON, CITY SECRETARY Monday, March 24, 2025 New Braunfels City Council Regular Meeting