[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6213383,"mediaKeyId","3676714-51dfb5da2f8d8730c6dec320d3bb06ad","parentId",3676714,"title","Council clears first readings on short‑term rental, fire prevention fee, and animal code updates","audioSeconds",229,"startMs",3905000,"endMs",4134000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3676714-51dfb5da2f8d8730c6dec320d3bb06ad&start=3905&end=4134","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3676714-51dfb5da2f8d8730c6dec320d3bb06ad/thumbnail_3905000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6213383/Alpine/Brewster-County/Texas/Council-clears-first-readings-on-shortterm-rental-fire-prevention-fee-and-animal-code-updates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213383-f477b019845cb3be8e3d9ac871869af6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775904645&Signature=FqmsD9M6RXtcP66lvBbPcNeygdvbtuiGW0a59BEOwiN37pkXZ6FInkNl-sNXncOZn-rUPFqFHgDqWoOcF0BhWCO5W5NmVtDPPADHCifvpbRDdcis4A0tQvx-RjJKPAPnxawVdAN25ONtjjAG19OvK3kAC8wk82W0ndfhfQxW-QFsbSHnjMo4XvyjPI260Hafyc5H6OvqwTHBQke6LHJ7SZWc9s8bZupQfOIaDJD4KPLWLm68XKwb2~ZCUn4N9XIE2tybfmn-jAW7jNQD0bh~goVgGa2w8Eg1tcRb-2cltTo0M-b7zvnsYGA7GcEbA3VS5eg1x3bDShUkq2A42Uc4rA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Alpine, Texas","date","2025-06-04T13:17:36Z","article","The Alpine City Council on June 3 approved first readings of three separate city code amendments: short‑term rentals, fire prevention inspection fees, and updates to the animals chapter.

Ordinance 2025‑06‑03 on short‑term rentals (STRs) was approved on first reading. The ordinance removes fee details from the ordinance text and places them in a fee schedule, clarifies that nonconforming properties may not operate as STRs, and leaves parking and zoning conditions for council consideration. Council discussion noted enforcement, parking, and how permit renewals should be handled; no substantive amendment was adopted on first reading.

Council also approved the first reading of Ordinance 2025‑06‑04 to amend Chapter 46 (fire prevention) to move inspection and permit fees to a fee schedule and authorize third‑party inspections; the ordinance also establishes penalties up to $500 per violation.

Separately, the council approved first reading of Ordinance 2025‑06‑05 to revise Chapter 10 (Animals) — updating dog and cat registration requirements, fallen/stray animal duties, and clarifying rules about wild and exotic animals. The ordinance likewise sets penalties up to $500 for violations.

All three measures advanced by unanimous vote on first reading and will return to council for subsequent readings and final adoption according to the city’s normal ordinance schedule.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 3, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","On June 3 the Alpine City Council gave unanimous first‑reading approval to ordinances revising rules on short‑term rentals, fire prevention inspection fees, and animal regulations; each ordinance moves to later readings for final adoption.","taxTitle","Alpine , Brewster County, Texas","taxId",55416,"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},6213388,"Alpine council sets June 17 follow‑up on city manager evaluation, orders employee survey and goal package",5861,227000,6088000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3676714-51dfb5da2f8d8730c6dec320d3bb06ad&start=227&end=6088","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3676714-51dfb5da2f8d8730c6dec320d3bb06ad/thumbnail_227000.jpg","/articles/6213388/Alpine/Brewster-County/Texas/Alpine-council-sets-June-17-followup-on-city-manager-evaluation-orders-employee-survey-and-goal-package","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213388-e83c72e8965d37abe44d1690e3b88bb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775904645&Signature=dxRaIxWDQ~9FEU7CtQqlMDI6y7AzpuHUrcmesQrfiRlcRQWajdZSMFJacXSmYOCpnrP60-ZFm4SN1HHovyrzYQwRki~mOg-LZ7ZOC8MMUqfGvWQ-gDRn2dZ98sHgOYQSzE2EESVZ8LscrlNMiWIt~0dv30t2RHcIOoyFhli~I-AamaDcf2ZnFajFioVk2BuScpsNhoUUMAPmP5hma1bajvQwm6s7bthI3nQFFWPwXXA1X8CG8LtLKYB8QkU523HkAPFjY-SVfg1dB6NlXD9yKZPXN0-FYs7Y6Z-uNk~0gT8LcDck8OG5oal3~NBjSJQ0kYEHfR7uhlQXVcOZ2xkUhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alpine councilors on June 3 agreed to begin a formal evaluation process for the city manager and to gather staff feedback about workplace climate, following public comments criticizing outsourcing and a lack of transparency.

Public commenter Oscar Cobos urged the council to “stop” outsourcing hiring of department heads and to be more transparent about the city manager’s salary and contracting decisions. Tara Nance used her public comment time to say she came to support the city manager and described progress during the last two years of administration.

Council Member Rucas said he expected annual evaluations under the manager’s contract and wanted a timely review because the contract approaches renewal in September. Several council members, including Stevens and Escobedo, supported a formal annual evaluation process with written goals and objectives.

Council directed the city manager to provide her goals and objectives to council prior to the next meeting; the council asked staff to develop an internal, anonymous employee survey to assess workplace climate and invited discussion about a separate citizen survey. Council member Lucas moved to place the evaluation discussion on the June 17 council agenda; council approved the motion.

Council members also discussed outsourcing for positions such as utilities director: some members said the city has struggled to recruit and may need interim outsourcing, while others said outsourcing decisions should be limited and transparent. Members raised concerns about staff morale and the need to identify root causes for any retention problems.

The city attorney and council will be involved if the council decides to negotiate or amend the manager’s contract before its September renewal date. The city cited Texas Government Code Chapter 551 as the authority for executive‑session discussion but the city manager requested open session for this particular evaluation item; the council complied and continued the conversation in open session.

Next steps: city manager to submit goals and objectives; staff to prepare an anonymous employee climate survey and a proposed process for evaluation; council to reconvene the evaluation discussion on June 17 and decide timing for any contract action.","After public comment and council discussion about outsourcing and transparency, the Alpine City Council agreed to begin a formal evaluation process for the city manager: city manager to submit goals and objectives; council to organize anonymous employee survey and consider a citizen survey; item set for discussion June 17.",{"_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},6213392,"Alpine council directs staff to refine zoning code and send updated map back to Planning & Zoning",1642,1305000,2947000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3676714-51dfb5da2f8d8730c6dec320d3bb06ad&start=1305&end=2947","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3676714-51dfb5da2f8d8730c6dec320d3bb06ad/thumbnail_1305000.jpg","/articles/6213392/Alpine/Brewster-County/Texas/Alpine-council-directs-staff-to-refine-zoning-code-and-send-updated-map-back-to-Planning-Zoning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213392-5308583910d1c035390ec13895d97909/orig.mp4?Expires=1775904645&Signature=m1cCcHDjHlFQour-pGvpdddHlyBc7QkVF4FSj3gRPOr35iSf70SqDEkKOcRSPd-r~XX6DXKRDxOOd1PgWXOvzqpm99YEslUO0jF6Kz~X5bKGSRYoqPkFzh0Ke14OCufjdk0B19MqKXmdit7mU6mrVRkttgfLKKYGHA~-IHN5kdQrLp9jYavBQjZ6MQeFtb1XIvtcQH5yRJ31VQLTdFGybOvJzGdT47K3Ft9OR0Q4Keg-SjArRJYXGihuXPgP~Dc6M03uMUxi4m8zHyhCqNKAwv3x2da4-U4k7SRnSO9LCq94BiGYWVaK5V9DEmoHzXbZ0UQX23wCiBzwWSzmNwGI7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alpine councilors on June 3 advanced a multi‑part plan to finalize a long‑delayed overhaul of the city’s zoning ordinance and an updated official zoning map.

Council Member Lucas reopened discussion on proposed amendments to Appendix C (zoning), including added definitions and uses, changes to parking requirements, and the inclusion of accessory dwelling units and cottage‑court housing types. Jessica Eisley, the city’s building official, presented a revised draft that added triplexes and quadplexes to R‑2, clarified automotive uses in C‑1/C‑2, and tightened internal inconsistencies between the zoning map and ordinance text.

Key topics during the discussion included: whether to keep a minimum lot size for R‑1 (some council members favored retaining a 7,000‑square‑foot minimum to preserve neighborhood character; others opposed a minimum because many older lots cannot meet it), removal of parking minimums for most districts (the draft keeps two parking spaces only in R‑1), and permitting smaller “casita” footprints and cottage courts to encourage more affordable infill housing while avoiding expensive fire‑separation requirements associated with townhouse construction.

Council reached several directions: staff will clean up the draft sign ordinance to integrate it into the zoning code, add definitions for triplex and quadplex, and adjust the R‑2 and C‑1 language as discussed. Council asked staff to return the cleaned draft to the Planning & Zoning Commission for review this month and scheduled the council’s first reading of the zoning ordinance and updated map for the first council meeting in July.

Jessica Eisley said she implemented prior meeting suggestions into the current draft and noted there are multiple small discrepancies and terminology mismatches to fix before final adoption. Council members discussed state legislative changes that may affect local lot‑size authority and agreed they needed a local solution that aligns with recent state bills.

Next steps: staff will submit the revised draft to P&Z for its monthly meeting, incorporate council edits (sign code, multifamily definitions, and parking adjustments), and return the ordinance and map to council for first reading at the July meeting.","Council and staff discussed a comprehensive update to Appendix C (zoning), map corrections dating to 2013, new definitions (triplex/quadplex, cottage courts), ADU rules, parking standards, and a timeline to return the draft to Planning & Zoning and then to council for first reading in July.",{"_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},6213396,"Council adopts third reading to rezone 1009 East Gallego from mobile‑home to neighborhood commercial",3322,515000,3837000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3676714-51dfb5da2f8d8730c6dec320d3bb06ad&start=515&end=3837","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3676714-51dfb5da2f8d8730c6dec320d3bb06ad/thumbnail_515000.jpg","/articles/6213396/Alpine/Brewster-County/Texas/Council-adopts-third-reading-to-rezone-1009-East-Gallego-from-mobilehome-to-neighborhood-commercial","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213396-6250e8b6ce9f6b22d551dbede19e543f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775904645&Signature=KdEI-MZ-jMD6N35TSckJPMcqJXGRTFIt10yypwfPWrgXGT8a2io4XPN08OhUeT012qJP2TuSM7C9PAb~C6cPCTUkK1~Vo9Z78fSLAZl4Eo3bG7FxWpxaNvB~9N50Ep-5g9JTMrrXOZdNoPYq6EdVyFxf8mVypyoc1aI9-2Y1TntemQJUbSoRB76Z6WexkePfoFY9M-iX1YGZQfyaMrfgPo1bEVgDRYQiYt419C9uUFD0LXi-KUoDpyTxe~6rWYY7p-95PtKcyCPWd2cCKWCFX~doMXA5LrNMCLjL-YdWiVKxdnSf6v-nxJCJkUNAe9EpVr~zvgPbTVGkpxCIOXruUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alpine City Council on June 3 approved the third reading of Ordinance 2025‑06‑02, rezoning 1009 East Gallego from R‑4 (mobile‑home) to C‑1 (neighborhood commercial).

Property owner Mike Mayanes spoke during the public hearing to describe long‑standing commercial uses on the block dating to the 1940s and said multiple lots fronting Gallego had been treated as commercial since his family purchased them in 1970. Planning and Zoning recommended approval, and the council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance on third reading.

The rezoning covers multiple lots described in the ordinance language and will change the official zoning map to reflect C‑1 for the parcels. The council and staff did not record additional conditions or amendments during the vote.

The ordinance takes effect following the city’s normal certification steps for adopted zoning changes.","The council unanimously approved the rezoning of property at 1009 East Gallego from R‑4 (mobile‑home district) to C‑1 (neighborhood commercial) on third reading.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6213400,"Alpine council allows mechanic shop to proceed, refunds rezoning fee and orders short-term building approval",3409,366000,3775000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3676714-51dfb5da2f8d8730c6dec320d3bb06ad&start=366&end=3775","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3676714-51dfb5da2f8d8730c6dec320d3bb06ad/thumbnail_366000.jpg","/articles/6213400/Alpine/Brewster-County/Texas/Alpine-council-allows-mechanic-shop-to-proceed-refunds-rezoning-fee-and-orders-short-term-building-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6213400-bdae36194ab4a2938236520eecd456f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775904645&Signature=ULxypXHIbVGbZh50J~X0x~WUU3OS1UqG0jnFTlTAXQdqfA8CILkGM-2xwMmRuDSTMNh8oDecq4-HdjSBige2EV1wjxefrPAePCMUaE91KQxcMigR6AhufVMnhZXlB8vK9-16tUNUPIrYeBCAJYGBs6t02vWq7JhmvJnjOLZ0Qdp4NghQtyK-G~iqc~x79LN9qvjYqT3vHdCzHib7OrrR2uASTu4d9R~~0aIrqINc5mSvLb7Q53sWfmZTmp8f7q7IE2ugeenDl63hwy7MXjI0WZmvyZqqiWNJ~7Xb5H4dCYXmLUKeCFnLY8xEu~Y~zdURWXz8AxERfXqJpCdHGVw16w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alpine City Council on June 3 agreed to allow a proposed mechanic shop at 702 East Murphy to move forward immediately while it pursues a formal zoning change.

Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 2025‑06‑01, a request to rezone the property from C‑1 (neighborhood commercial) to M‑1 (industrial), but amended the measure to authorize the building official to permit automotive operations at the existing C‑1 zoning for a three‑month window and to refund the applicant’s rezoning fee.

The amendment followed public comment from Christina Aranda, who said she and her husband are ready to build and “we just need the proper permits.” Planning and Zoning had recommended M‑1 because the current C‑1 classification does not explicitly allow an automotive repair facility; staff told council the property was not properly categorized after an earlier 2017 entry.

Council members debated two options: approve M‑1 immediately, or allow the applicant to operate under C‑1 while the city finalizes broader zoning ordinance changes. Council members who expressed concern about introducing M‑1 into residential areas said the temporary C‑1 accommodation and a refunded fee would be a way to correct a city error without creating a new industrial pocket in the neighborhood.

Council Member Rick Stevens moved the amendment that authorized the building official to permit automotive uses on the site for three months while the council works on the zoning ordinance; the council voted unanimously to approve the amendment and then approved the ordinance as amended.

Under the action, the applicant may apply for building permits and related approvals under the limited authorization. The council directed staff to include the automotive allowance for the parcel in the pending zoning ordinance updates and to return the rezoning fee to the applicant. The formal rezoning ordinance will follow the usual second‑reading procedures.

The council’s change was framed as corrective: staff said earlier guidance to the property owner had been mistaken and the amendment was intended to remove an administrative barrier while the comprehensive zoning update proceeds.

Next steps: staff will issue permits under the three‑month authorization, the zoning ordinance update will incorporate a definitive classification for automotive uses in the affected districts, and the council will take the ordinance through its remaining readings as required.","The Alpine City Council approved the first reading to rezone 702 East Murphy from C‑1 to M‑1 but amended the action to let the applicant proceed under C‑1 for three months while the council updates its zoning rules, and to refund the rezoning fee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council clears first readings on short‑term rental, fire prevention fee, and animal code updates

Alpine council sets June 17 follow‑up on city manager evaluation, orders employee survey and goal package

Alpine council directs staff to refine zoning code and send updated map back to Planning & Zoning

Council adopts third reading to rezone 1009 East Gallego from mobile‑home to neighborhood commercial

Alpine council allows mechanic shop to proceed, refunds rezoning fee and orders short-term building approval