[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6050211,"mediaKeyId","3492328-39d35dc4443ab6f773d6a57532bf7146","parentId",3492328,"title","Council approves rezoning for 0.5-acre property at 1655 State Highway 46 South to C1B","audioSeconds",134,"startMs",1320000,"endMs",1454000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3492328-39d35dc4443ab6f773d6a57532bf7146&start=1320&end=1454","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3492328-39d35dc4443ab6f773d6a57532bf7146/thumbnail_1320000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6050211/New-Braunfels/Comal-County/Texas/Council-approves-rezoning-for-05-acre-property-at-1655-State-Highway-46-South-to-C1B","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050211-ab331a011078a248efa0db3b4d917751/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448039&Signature=LIzVSKAIFgJiAZPol8WqJ-FXuXuuNhaxeFQ~iAh5kxo0Cm3iMxgLJLjQXCfCpmuYPypvdC70ztlNFE4IMsxWNJuy7dY4VbNZ96TnRj2viFPRqVLEox-E8UQoAOofwfAodcgSQ6NUHcsWuqVQIhKogWF3O1u7LkyGLyGaUHqpozAp5AdP2ezlK7j3d3uxU3u2dLc8j9aIimK2ut4InoyVYE8M0jRhdlPuTEIUqcSF~c~lwAqRZk~ll~afMUT9roFQ2jL23SOF2NE6qwc9Q2tuA6ZIbNo15gPyfQLCJIFqxoEQexCnkpABjn98sXVGViSuo2v5JuMNN9dDnega1jKeng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Braunfels City","date","2025-04-28T00:00:00Z","article","The New Braunfels City Council approved a rezoning request on first reading to change roughly 0.5 acres at 1655 State Highway 46 South from legacy C1 to C1B (general business zoning) with an airport hazard overlay.

Matthew Samant of the Planning and Development Services department described the site as located on the northeast side of State Highway 46 near the FM 758 intersection and bordered by commercial and mixed‑use zoning. Samant told council that C1B allows a broader range of office, retail and service uses and that staff had found the request consistent with Envision New Braunfels and recommended approval.

Notices were mailed to nine property owners within 200 feet of the site as required; staff said the city received one written response in support of the rezoning. The public hearing was opened and, after no speakers, the council voted to approve the rezoning on first reading. The item advances under the city’s rezoning procedure and will follow the normal ordinance adoption process.

Council action on the item was unanimous.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New Braunfels City Hall - Council Chambers 6:00 PM 4/28/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved a first reading rezoning to change a 0.5‑acre parcel at 1655 State Highway 46 South from legacy C1 to C1B with an airport overlay; staff recommended approval and notices were sent to nine nearby owners with one written response in support.","taxTitle","New Braunfels, Comal County, Texas","taxId",2780,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6050216,"Council approves $85,000 contract and steering committee to craft citywide arts and culture master plan",270,1014000,1284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3492328-39d35dc4443ab6f773d6a57532bf7146&start=1014&end=1284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3492328-39d35dc4443ab6f773d6a57532bf7146/thumbnail_1014000.jpg","/articles/6050216/New-Braunfels/Comal-County/Texas/Council-approves-85000-contract-and-steering-committee-to-craft-citywide-arts-and-culture-master-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050216-63605a13c75de6c6830de9fac48f3757/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448039&Signature=UEq18m3K2pVsIp1YMuzvA~JOrTnNJNDY7~ek5fuFm~DWcif-t~6YPRo0pw2-~DEmE3XhIRr-uT-g16fkrp3NcdqpiW1QnClfmSxYePb~UYX6s1hHsvHV1dRHFfTu3nHfOCK0DTI1o8a2EUK6EuPbcXmzDZ2rnFe5sK1eXZyLq2K-T40jCcIchZYnO2nMzwdXl7YqmGveSgcSYE9~7Ynisbu31OQm7~jTVe~J7CGN0YZE6TDE0Ky6cfWQNmhqg-RSI0HX7wdn75Lp2LeH57nPo78aUAmu5swOGohldn30NXkGOf14XTMwN5hAhBhjT~xsK0UXNOZmNyDNMzo4PNoxyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Braunfels City Council voted unanimously to approve an $85,000 contract with Designing Local to develop a citywide arts and culture master plan and to establish an ad hoc steering committee to guide the process.

Jeff Jewell, the city’s economic and community development director, told council the master plan was identified in the city’s 2024–2029 strategic plan and is intended to define actionable strategies that clarify the city’s role in supporting arts and culture. Jewell said the contract work is expected to take roughly nine months and staff propose an ad hoc steering committee of up to nine stakeholders representing arts, culture and heritage interests.

Jewell said the consultant will conduct one‑on‑one interviews with 30–40 arts stakeholders, host 15–20 focused working groups, and run public outreach that begins this Saturday at SangerFest. The plan will include strategies, roles, timelines and potential resource allocations, and will identify funding partnerships and other funding sources to implement the plan. Councilmembers asked whether establishing a formal cultural arts district would be considered; Jewell said that possibility will be evaluated during the planning process.

Councilmember Bradley moved approval and Councilmember Lebowski seconded; the motion passed unanimously. With the contract in place, staff said Designing Local will begin stakeholder interviews and public engagement immediately.","The council unanimously approved an $85,000 contract with Designing Local and agreed to an ad hoc steering committee of up to nine members to develop a nine‑month arts and culture master plan with public outreach beginning at SangerFest.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6050221,"Mobile integrated health program credited with fewer repeat 911 calls, city hears",1254,2731000,3985000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3492328-39d35dc4443ab6f773d6a57532bf7146&start=2731&end=3985","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3492328-39d35dc4443ab6f773d6a57532bf7146/thumbnail_2731000.jpg","/articles/6050221/New-Braunfels/Comal-County/Texas/Mobile-integrated-health-program-credited-with-fewer-repeat-911-calls-city-hears","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050221-281fb5f0d91d86ccb10ec327c0ea35c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448039&Signature=TxDEMlbYEa1-4BN0iSOEWaz41JCJCNHR7tYApxXESMs2OwoOkFeETGwwrwhBPXjyq-l9NrCvbfqnXEtj~MLKuZFEuViqfp8eCdf5ktF0Ti713C2Zd9L8AnIZseKU2bSAAspBBOOAfwCdtou23EX98UZBn8OUBkRsPVD9V2SongNBXrltJSMomNvIYXONfOJB2UytK-qrrJf2T3ttX8yb1lDFw-gbBxEbB97Q3-kf8~sHrbWIsm~LXEFK44JME2cM0sNOL0mWAvI-0Gvttvh8ivLbZI3NyhFJamFz7goTsEgjbhlnh3pg~6JaBerAApGb9a87l0MJTMDm7aXUOi9mUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Braunfels Fire Department told the City Council it has substantially reduced repeat, nonemergency 911 calls after launching a mobile integrated health (MIH) program that assigns a specialist to high‑use callers.

Fire Chief Lozano reported the program began in earnest about a year ago and targeted “super utilizers,” callers who used EMS frequently. The department initially set a working threshold of 10 or more 911 calls in a year to identify the population for the program; that cohort numbered 32 people and accounted for more than 500 calls for service in the baseline year, Lozano said. “When we first identified those that only had 4, there was so many, we really didn't have the capacity to respond to that demand. So we decided to up our threshold to 10,” he said.

Chief Lozano and Ashley, the MIH specialist, said the program helped connect people to primary care, medication support, case management and other community resources. Ashley told council she completed 391 MIH visits during the program period, often meeting patients nonemergently to build care plans and connect them with local agencies and providers. She said those visits are logged into the department’s charting system so firefighters can see whether an address is associated with a known MIH client.

City presenters attributed a measurable drop in repeat calls to the MIH work. Lozano and Ashley said the original 32 patients made 524 EMS calls in fiscal year 2023 and 294 calls in fiscal year 2024, a roughly 44 percent reduction for that baseline group. Separately, staff estimated the program produced approximately 300 avoided EMS calls overall and an estimated cost avoidance of about $240,000 in transport and consumable expenses; the department uses an average nonrecoverable per‑transport cost of $800 in its calculations.

Funding for the MIH specialist’s salary came from opioid‑settlement funds, while the McKenna Foundation provided capital support for vehicle and equipment costs, Chief Lozano said. Council heard that four patients have ‘‘graduated’’ from the program and several others are nearing graduation. Staff also said they are adding an intern and contracting with a behavioral analyst to address patients who are resistant to case management. Lozano said staff are evaluating whether to add a second MIH specialist as demand and geography (including expanding ESD coverage) require.

Council members praised the program’s outcomes and encouraged continued expansion and coordination with local transportation resources. No formal council action was required; members thanked the fire department and MIH staff for reducing strain on EMS resources and improving patient outcomes.","The Fire Department reported declines in repeat nonemergency 911 calls after adding a mobile integrated health specialist; staff said the program reduced calls from an initial cohort and produced roughly 300 avoided EMS calls in its first year, saving an estimated $240,000 in transport costs.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6050226,"New Braunfels council reviews managed downtown parking plan proposing paid on-street system",825,1649000,2474000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3492328-39d35dc4443ab6f773d6a57532bf7146&start=1649&end=2474","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3492328-39d35dc4443ab6f773d6a57532bf7146/thumbnail_1649000.jpg","/articles/6050226/New-Braunfels/Comal-County/Texas/New-Braunfels-council-reviews-managed-downtown-parking-plan-proposing-paid-on-street-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6050226-b13b5007fe3cd34d0e7717579b6d19c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448039&Signature=Fu57iy0MVkk8dRWNItyUXV0INi1GhCTX1b7RLjvUNLRaReqDxH01e6THOqsbWzRCCvypTSz~jt2KFYwtL~p14mLDuYxCTlAs5IEm1GOA58C2YNRb8kRGD-cVmBtR0If1dPlB3rgc5~aYgGQQ2estHSOM3bnYSxJStOdsp8wxVF1y7rpPqqUpUtEnAGntaqQI4QNFruEON8IAq2~aXHBrIhFIkgdgPK6y9QjVcpFRzTfu2De-APDuy9z2~-GaYRnI8stblJ27JPBUYH4bHpD0m3AGqkzno74aW4ENUNTfltPnR3~y-UaJirl1uhr9nD1ip1RJZKOliRG~W~wtjyu8TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The New Braunfels City Council on Monday heard a presentation outlining a proposal to move downtown to a managed parking system that would introduce paid on‑street parking and reinvest revenue into enforcement and new parking supply.

City economic and community development staff said the proposal aims to improve turnover for businesses, reduce congestion and generate funding to add parking supply. Jeff Jewell, the city’s economic and community development director, told council the plan would keep the first hour free, charge $2 for each additional hour with a $10 daily maximum, and reinvest revenue into enforcement, parking acquisitions and potential structured parking.

Jewell said the downtown area already contains more than 2,500 parking spaces with typical demand around 1,500 spaces at peak times, and that the goal of a managed system is to increase turnover so more customers can access retail and restaurants. “The first hour would be free. And each additional hour would be $2 with a daily max of $10,” Jewell said. He described a program that combines paid on‑street zones, permit programs for employees, smart technology and third‑party enforcement.

The city has selected a private vendor to provide technology and enforcement. Jewell said the vendor will not require a phone app; drivers can scan QR codes or pay by phone or text, and a staffed call center (10 a.m.–10 p.m.) will assist users. The vendor also plans a local storefront, parking ambassadors and outreach at events; Jewell said staff will begin outreach this Saturday at SangerFest. Council was told the city will run a period without citations when the system first rolls out so users can register and learn the system.

Council members asked about accessibility and exemptions. Jewell said policy around disabled‑veteran plates and handicapped license plates is still under consideration and will be addressed when staff brings ordinance language back to council. He also said currently there are not designated on‑street ADA spaces in the areas being discussed, though planned street projects (San Antonio Street reallocation) will add some ADA access.

Questions also focused on enforcement and who carries it out. Jewell said enforcement will be by the vendor, not New Braunfels police, and that vendor staff will check license plates and exemptions. He acknowledged resident concerns about losing two‑hour free parking and said the city will highlight existing free on‑street and off‑street spaces in outreach materials.

No council action was taken Monday; staff said ordinance changes will be brought forward in May and the city hopes to launch a managed parking system in June following additional outreach and open houses.","City staff presented a plan to move downtown to a managed parking system that would introduce paid on‑street parking (first hour free, $2 per additional hour, $10 daily max), begin community outreach and aim for a June launch; council heard details but took no formal action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves rezoning for 0.5-acre property at 1655 State Highway 46 South to C1B

Council approves $85,000 contract and steering committee to craft citywide arts and culture master plan

Mobile integrated health program credited with fewer repeat 911 calls, city hears

New Braunfels council reviews managed downtown parking plan proposing paid on-street system