CITY & COUNTY
News from New Braunfels & Comal & Guadalupe counties
COMPILED BY SIERRA MARTIN
QUOTE OF NOTE
City seeking input amid strategic planning process
New Braunfels City Council will meet Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at 550 Landa St., New Braunfels. 830-221-4000 www.newbraunfels.gov Comal County Commissioners Court will meet Aug. 10, 17 and 24 and Sept. 3 and 10 at 8:30 a.m. at 100 Main Plaza, New Braunfels. 830-221-1100 • www.co.comal.tx.us MEETINGS WE COVER and purchase with Motorola Solutions for in-car systems and body-worn cameras for the New Braunfels police and re departments July 10. The technology helps with prosecution through the collection and preservation of evidence, lowers the number of complaints on o cers, and reduces investigation time. COMAL COUNTY A proclamation was issued July 20 by the Comal County Commissioners Court to recognize the Comal County Historical Commission for receiving the 2022 Distinguished Service Award from the Texas Historical Commission. COMAL COUNTY The Comal County Sheri ’s O ce Community Resource Team brought home the 2023 Outstanding Crime Prevention NUMBER TO KNOW acres of parkland in New Braunfels consist of developed parks and undeveloped open spaces. 740 HIGHLIGHTS NEW BRAUNFELS Mayor Neal Linnartz presented a proclamation to acknowledge July as Parks and Recreation Month on July 10. NEW BRAUNFELS Council approved a contract modi cation “PARKS AND RECREATION NOT ONLY PROVIDES QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE, BUT ALSO PRODUCES SOME OF THE BEST EMPLOYEES IN THE NEW BRAUNFELS EMPLOYEE POOL.” JORDAN MATNEY, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SAID AT A JULY 10 CITY COUNCIL MEETING Agency (Medium Agency) Award from the Texas Crime Prevention Association Conference.
NEW BRAUNFELS City o cials are in the process of creating New Braunfels’ next strategic plan and are asking for input from the community. The Strategic Plan will serve as a blueprint for the city’s long-term sustainability, program- ming, services, operations and infrastructure. According to the city, e ective strategic plans shape its path and the actions needed to make prog- ress as well as how to de ne how the plans are successful. The city contracted with national consulting rm BerryDunn to coordinate with City Council, city administration, key community stakeholders and the public throughout the process. The background: The strategic plan process includes four project phases: • Phase 1 (spring 2023): project initiation and planning • Phase 2 (summer 2023): evaluation of strengths, weakness, opportuni- ties and challenges • Phase 3 (fall 2023): development of strategic plan • Phase 4 (winter 2024): City looks toward taking over former YMCA location NEW BRAUNFELS The city is looking toward expanding Das Rec to operate a branch out of the former New Braunfels YMCA at 545 Creekside Crossing, which closed July 14 due to lack of members. What happened: City Manager Rob- ert Camareno said the city is in talks with Resolute Baptist Hospital and the property manager to consider expanding Das Rec services to the location. The city is also putting together a business plan to estimate the cost of operating the facility. According to a news release, the YMCA of Greater San Antonio board of directors created the New Braunfels Feasibility Task Force. YMCA o cials said in the news release that based on that study, it
implementation of strategic plan Phase 2 is underway and includes gathering input from the New Braunfels community, according to the city. Residents can partici- pate in the process by submitting long-form input and taking a survey at www.newbraunfels.gov/ strategicplan. Digging deeper: The city’s strategic plan survey asks residents to rank and provide feedback on its gov- ernment, public safety, a ordable housing and more. It also asks residents what they would like to see added to the city. More information about the New Braunfels Strategic Plan process
and updates on the process can be found at www.newbraunfels.gov/ strategicplan.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING “If the city doesn’t think strategically and make the e ort to plan for the future, we may struggle to maintain our focus, which could a ect the progress we make
toward the outcomes that are most important for the residents and businesses in our community.” ROBERT CAMARENO, NEW BRAUNFELS CITY MANAGER
The city will also be hosting four community forums to explain the strategic plan process and provide residents another opportunity to participate.
GET INVOLVED
Aug. 29 at noon: New Braunfels Utilities Service Center, 355 FM 306 Aug. 29 at 6 p.m.: New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E. Common St. Aug. 31 at noon: New Braunfels Police Department, 3030 W. San Antonio St. Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.: New Braunfels Civic & Convention Center, 375 S. Castell Ave.
SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS COMMUNITY IMPACT
Burn bans issued in local counties COMAL & GUADALUPE COUNTIES Both counties issued burn bans in July in response to record excessive heat in the region. A burn ban was implemented in the unincorporated areas of Comal County on July 5 and Guadalupe County on July 12. The conditions: The bans do not prohibit outdoor burning related to public health and safety authorized by the Texas Commission on Envi- ronmental Quality. Exemptions are also given to speci c causes, such as agriculture land-clearing businesses and public utility work. The orders will expire 90 days after adoption unless action is taken to lift or extend it. Those who do not comply with the ban will face a Class C misdemeanor, which is punishable by a ne not to exceed $500.
The New Braunfels YMCA closed in July from lack of members.
SIERRA MARTIN COMMUNITY IMPACT
has been determined that despite the partnership with Resolute, the organization lacks the facilities and programs to attract the number of families, children and youth neces- sary to sustain the operation.” Notable quote: Former YMCA member Marsha Rogers spoke to City Council to encourage the city to partner with Resolute and utilize the space. “[Das Rec Center] is just incred- ibly overcrowded,” Rogers said. “If we don’t move it, we are going to lose it.”
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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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