New Braunfels Edition | January 2023

CITY & COUNTY

Top city & county stories to watch in 2023

2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE

Options for bond election taking shape NEW BRAUNFELS Proposed bond projects largely focused on transportation, constructing the Southeast Branch Library, and parks and recreation are being considered by the New Braunfels City Council. During a Jan. 5 work- shop, council members discussed which projects should be included on the ballot for the May bond election and how funding would be distrib- uted for the $140 million worth of projects. The bond advisory committee met throughout BY SIERRA MARTIN

OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2023

FIRST FOOTING MAKES STRIDES IN COMMUNITY The New Braunfels Housing Partners First Footing program has been assisting individuals without shelter in the community since 2021.

BOND BREAKDOWN The New Braunfels City Council will review projects proposed by the city’s Bond Advisory Committee.

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Aordable housing crisis being addressed in New Braunfels The New Braunfels City Council is considering solutions throughout the next year recommended by the city’s Workforce Housing Advisory Committee to address the lack of aordable housing for New Braunfels residents. Workforce housing was dened as aordable housing, meaning no more than 30% of a household’s income is spent toward housing costs for moderate- and middle-income workers close to their jobs within the local community. Both homeownership and rental housing can apply to workforce housing. “The percentage of folks that earn less than $40,000 a year has increased signicantly over the last ve years, and we have more and more folks commuting into New Braunfels to work here than ever,” said Je Jewell, director of economic and community development. The committee has developed a recommended two-year timeline that includes utilizing regulatory and nancial incentives in exchange for the provision of aordable units and aligning city and utility fee waiver policies to provide sucient incentives for workforce housing projects.

as well as completing a portion of the Dry Comal Creek Trail feasibility and conceptual design. “I support all 20 projects. I was lucky to be on the bond project committee. We worked through many projects to get to this 20. These 20 are really important to the overall picture of the city,” said Joe Turner, member of the 2023 bond advisory committee. “There are many transportation projects on [the 2023 bond proposal]; we need every one of those transpor- tation projects.” Council members considered several scenar- ios on how the proposed projects can be funded while remaining within their $140 million budget and have until Feb. 17 to place it on the May ballot. Projects not selected will remain on the plan for potential future development with other funding sources, according to the city. “City Council decided really on three prop- ositions: number one was transportation, and that’s where majority of the bond would go to transportation,” said Gary Ford, transportation and capital improvements director for the city of New Braunfels. “The second is supporting a library branch on the southeast part of town and then nally supporting the full costs of Mission Hill Park.”

Transportation $123.28 million (67.2%) Library facilities $28.56 million (15.6%) Parks $16.94 million (9.2%) Drainage $14.76 million (8%)

Bond total $183.54M

400 individuals assisted

30-50 individuals helped on a daily basis

18,500 overnight shelter stays provided

143 individuals reconnected with other communities closer to their support system

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

MOST EXPENSIVE PROPOSED PROJECTS The committee recommended its top 20 projects to the New Braunfels City Council, totaling $183 million. City Council will now narrow them down to $140 million. $30M

Homeless assistance program moves into former fire station NEW BRAUNFELS City Council authorized the nonprot orga- nization New Braunfels Housing Partners in December to take over the lease of a former re station. The facility will be utilized for its First opportunity to lease the former Fire Station No. 2 at 4120 Loop 337 to the NBHP, according to City Manager Robert Camareno. been operating since 2021 and served around 400 individuals with shelter, support, case management and housing plan services for a total of nearly 18,500 nights of shelter. The program serves an average BY SIERRA MARTIN

2022 to narrow a list of proposed 2023 bond projects. On Oct. 17, the committee formed an ocial recommendation for the City Council, which was made up of 20 projects totaling over $183 million. The proposed projects will be considered by the City Council before being narrowed down to $140 million, which is the estimated capacity without a tax rate impact for a proposed May bond election. During the bond workshop Dec. 5, many mem- bers of the community came forward to voice their support for the proposed parks and recre- ation projects. The projects include Comal River improvements to the last tubers exit, the west section of the Alligator Creek Linear Park and Trail and the second phase of Mission Hill Park

1. Southeast Library Branch Library: $28.56 million 2. Common Street improvements Transportation: $24.78 million 3. Citywide street improvements Transportation: $20 million 4. Kohlenberg Road Transportation: $15.93 million 5. Mission Hill Park Phase 2 Parks and recreation: $12.16 million

$25M

$20M

“The New Braunfels Housing Part- ners have been looking for a location to continue to provide their services through their First Footing program; they are currently at the Edelweiss Inn,” Camareno said. “However, that is not a sustainable long-term option for this program.” The First Footing Program has

$15M

of 30 individuals on a nightly basis. The demand increases to nearly 50 individuals on cold nights, accord- ing to the city. The New Braunfels City Council approved authorizing the lease agreement unanimously during the Nov. 28 regular meeting.

$10M

Footing program, which provides shelter and support services to unhoused individuals. The construction of the new Fire Station No. 2 at South Water Lane is underway and has provided the

$5M

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

CREEKSIDE TOWN CENTER 263 Creekside Crossing (830) 608-1969

NEW BRAUNFELS 1671 IH-35 S (830) 629-0434

LIVE OAK 14623 IH-35 N (210) 651-1911