New Braunfels | September 2022

CITY & COUNTY

News from Comal County & New Braunfels

QUOTE OF NOTE

City boards accepting resident applications through Sept. 30

Commissioners preliminarily approve FY 2022-23 budget

ROADWAY IMPACT FEE

“IF I HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN PRICING OUT SOMEBODY WHO HASN’T MOVED HERE AND PRICING OUT SOMEBODY WHO’S BEEN HERE FOR 40 YEARS, I’M GOING TO CHOOSE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVEN’T MOVED HERE YET.”

HOP ON A COMMITTEE Residents of New Braunfels have until Sept. 30 to apply to serve on one of several committees overseeing city operations. Terms for those appointed to committees will begin Dec. 1.

OCTOBER 2022 Council’s recommendation is to be reviewed by the Roadway Impact Advisory Committee.

NOVEMBER 2022 City Council can decide to approve new fees.

AUGUST 2022 New Braunfels City Council makes its new recommendation.

The roadway impact fee is funding that goes toward recouping the costs of transportation capital improvements made necessary by new development. Council has recommended the city of New Braunfels collects residential fees at up to 100% of the maximum.

BY SIERRA MARTIN

Board and the River Advisory Committee. “Applying for a city board or commission is easy with an online application process that lets you upload your information, including resume and cover letter,” City Secre- tary Gayle Wilkinson said. “Boards and commissions offer citizens an opportunity to directly participate in their city government by giving important feedback and direction to City Council.” Some boards and commissions have different eligibility require- ments, including experience in specific areas or being residents of New Braunfels. A detailed descrip- tion of committees and potential eligibility requirements can be found at www.newbraunfels.gov/ boardscommissions. Residents interested in applying can apply online.

BEGINNING OF 2023 New fees are anticipated to be implemented.

2024

BY ERIC WEILBACHER

NEW BRAUNFELS Applications are being accepted until Sept. 30 for New Braunfels boards and commis- sions that have fall appointments. Appointments under the fall term will end Nov. 30 each year with new appointments beginning Dec. 1. Committees that are accepting applications include the Animal Services Advisory Board, Building Standards Commission, Cemetery Committee, Civil Service Commis- sion, Library Board, New Braunfels Economic Development Council (4B Board) and the New Braunfels Utilities Board. Additional committees with openings include the Parks and Recreation Board, Partnership Committee, Workforce Housing Advisory Committee, Community Development Advisory Committee, Landa Park Golf Course Advisory

The next roadway impact fee study begins.

Committees with openings include:

COMAL COUNTY The Commis- sioners Court unanimously approved the 2022-23 county budget Aug. 18, amended to include an 8% across- the-board pay increase for all county employees. Commissioners opted to amend the budget to exclude themselves and other elected county officials from receiving the pay increase. The $77.15 million budget for the general fund is a 5.79% increase from the previous fiscal year’s budget; however, the 2022 budget was a 3.87% decrease from the 2021 budget. Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Webb made the motion to amend the raises to exclude elected officials. The pay scale adjustments—as well as new positions added—mean the county auditor’s office will update the budget for final approval Sept. 29.

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

Animal Services Advisory Board; Building Standards Commission; Cemetery Committee; Civil Service Commission; Library Board; New Braunfels Economic Development Council (4B Board); New Braunfels Utilities Board; Parks and Recreation Board; Partnership Committee; Workforce Housing Advisory Committee; Community Development Advisory Committee; Landa Park Golf Course Advisory Board; and River Advisory Committee.

City council to consider raising roadway impact fee for developers

BY SIERRA MARTIN

residential land uses and 25% for nonresidential land uses. “Obviously, some of these projects that are needed by the development are not being done, and it’s just a matter of the citizens living with congestion and delays,” said Garry Ford, New Braunfels Transportation and Capitol Improve- ments director. Council has the authority to establish the collected fees at up to 100% of the maximum assessable fees, which council members voiced support for. “If I have to choose between pricing out somebody who hasn’t moved here and pricing out somebody who’s been here for 40 years, I’m going to choose the people who haven’t moved here yet,” Council Member Andres Campos said. “If we don’t charge this impact fee, this is going to end up as a burden to our constituents, and that doesn’t seem fair to me.”

NEW BRAUNFELS City Council received a presentation during its Aug. 22 meeting on the roadway impact fee program and gave the direction to look into increasing the residential fee from the previous recommendation made by the council in 2020 of 65% to a 100% charge. An impact fee is an assessment of new development to generate revenue for funding or recouping the costs of transportation capital improvements or facility expansion improvements that are made necessary by new develop- ment. The fees were established in New Braunfels in 2007, and funding from the fees goes toward roadway, waste and wastewater improvements related to new developments. The current collected fee was established in February 2020 and made effective Aug. 1, 2020. The adopted collected fees are 50% of the maximum assessable fees for

COUNCIL MEMBER ANDRES CAMPOS ON THE ROADWAY IMPACT FEE PROGRAM

New Braunfels City Council Meets Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29 at 6 p.m. at 550 Landa St., New Braunfels 830-221-4000 • www.nbtexas.org Comal County Commissioners Court Meets Sept. 11, 18 and 25 at 8:30 a.m. at 100 Main Plaza, New Braunfels 830-221-1100 • www.co.comal.tx.us MEETINGS WE COVER

SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS/ COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

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

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