[{"_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",6169016,"mediaKeyId","5405369-30b08c10879809bc704fb53ca5320173","parentId",5405369,"title","Council opens discussion on dog‑tethering rules; members ask staff to draft no‑chain language and review shelter/fencing standards","audioSeconds",1351,"startMs",9491000,"endMs",10842000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405369-30b08c10879809bc704fb53ca5320173&start=9491&end=10842","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405369-30b08c10879809bc704fb53ca5320173/thumbnail_9491000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6169016/Leon-Valley/Bexar-County/Texas/Council-opens-discussion-on-dogtethering-rules-members-ask-staff-to-draft-nochain-language-and-review-shelterfencing-standards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169016-0744910fd32e263b85344f7aa7b7374b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776153340&Signature=DzOmUovQp6mtl0z66811lTwV0ejsoEORUqVGenD4xN-4XFDjyBSOMoydfU1-kMMJbpdswCxx5TC5VXpV4qxIVrT4BYdyCIx~vwHfyR3hJnjYhHreY~3L3jyrw~1REjD5o-JJLu3GOMlcMhuEX-tfUtZoCQNbBOwAMpYSU74Ue9MtuzvsDefiAruE30NwhDCR3smT1Xn3yeJAOmFWlmwuud8IhHQaU2vZdcDKJbKsa3yrMk5kB8-RL~-Z7u-savKoRh5YI-8fmq7lgjAQaE3NDcitlBobDoZRj127bTymbpWCfTxLSU-yIZ4GWDIavAdQMaa0v~2UVugDX98fTcut7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Leon Valley, TX","date","2025-07-16T06:02:54Z","article","The City Council discussed possible revisions to Leon Valley’s animal control provisions governing tethering on July 15 after councilmembers and residents described dogs kept tethered in yards with inadequate shelter.
Councilmember Danielle Bolton said she “would prefer them not to be tethered at all,” citing animal welfare and safety concerns. Staff reviewed the existing ordinance language: current code allows tethering subject to specific standards (collar type, maximum tether lengths, requirement for shelter, water and shade) and prohibits tethering that is primarily by chain or that uses a tether exceeding one‑tenth of an animal’s body weight; a separate property‑maintenance provision requires secured enclosures for animals.
Residents urged clarity and stronger enforcement; one resident said a tethered puppy died after a storm and asked for more proactive animal welfare enforcement. Staff advised that the existing code includes requirements for shelter, shade and adequate water, and noted limits on enforcement: code enforcement typically responds to reports, and the Safe Dog Act and other state provisions affect enforcement timing and authority. Several councilmembers asked staff to review the full animal‑control and property‑maintenance code and return with proposed language. Councilmember Bolton moved to add a no‑chain prohibition; she later withdrew the motion to allow staff time to prepare refined language.
Ending: Council asked staff to prepare proposed ordinance language that would remove chain‑type tethers and clarify shelter, secured‑enclosure and enforcement provisions and to return the item to a future council meeting for formal action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Meeting 07/15/2025","oneSentenceSummary","On July 15 the City Council discussed revisions to Leon Valley’s animal control code after residents reported dogs tethered with inadequate shelter; councilmembers asked staff to draft language to prohibit chain tethers and to clarify secure‑enclosure and shelter requirements.","taxTitle","Leon Valley, Bexar County, Texas","taxId",69409,"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},6169026,"Council moves forward with code rewrite: sustainability overlay deleted, rules moved into Chapter 15 for clearer compliance",2729,3517000,6246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405369-30b08c10879809bc704fb53ca5320173&start=3517&end=6246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405369-30b08c10879809bc704fb53ca5320173/thumbnail_3517000.jpg","/articles/6169026/Leon-Valley/Bexar-County/Texas/Council-moves-forward-with-code-rewrite-sustainability-overlay-deleted-rules-moved-into-Chapter-15-for-clearer-compliance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169026-93aae1cb4d4c73694ad6e50139c82ad3/orig.mp4?Expires=1776153340&Signature=Dd5OoNz5T7Oa0R9x5v6jZgeSRs0MHNFOWdebC8PdRWe9Mo95UPhfRzmXJXBeGINqrjjR3YSeMWg1VCnp1I2cyFIt9uzWP~k1VW1auS6a4ERuaS10-3FLvrh23otAQrO-bXG8Ij4S~8Bv7--VQ78P6A-3yUw8qBccVVvtEKbJNxT5wGi8xq8wlZBF6xxQI5P6dkRBcu6KmxbDvNczM7htaSI--cj4gPMV18OJnDdUwvppFNhv6iGoMhqaUNA8gRJWi9p~e01S1ROK0W2BgN0LQp2buRPy46JZcpEnIWqKByAjVpcRNe3UMx4GgvggzYq-0-t1cAqdWctaehu0eRAtcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council received a detailed presentation July 15 on proposed amendments to Chapter 15 of the Leon Valley Zoning Ordinance that would delete the standalone Sustainability and Commercial‑Industrial overlay districts, retain the Gateway overlay, and move many permitted design regulations into the primary Chapter 15 district rules.
City Manager Dr. Caldera and Planning and Zoning Director Susanna Huerta described a multi‑year process. Dr. Caldera said earlier council direction and a legal review prompted the rewrite: some overlay provisions conflicted with subsequent state law changes restricting regulation of building materials and aesthetics. Susanna Huerta said the proposed change keeps legally allowable standards — such as landscaping, lighting and parking — but places them within the commercial and industrial districts to make the code easier for applicants and staff to use.
Huerta told the council the proposed amendments add two residential district categories, remove the MX‑one mixed‑use district, move sustainability provisions into Chapter 15, and change the permitted‑use table so uses previously prohibited by overlay districts would revert to the underlying zone unless specifically restricted. She said staff mailed about 1,100 notices to property owners within the affected areas and received roughly ten letters of concern, largely because the legal notice language was dense and some recipients thought the notice announced new development rather than a code amendment.
Public commenters, including residents and former council members, urged clearer public notices and recommended focusing on practical elements such as streetscape, the planned development (PDD) criteria, and enforcement. Several council members asked that the rewrite be adopted in stages: move the code now to comply with state law and improve usability, then hold workshops to refine streetscape, PDD criteria, and other contested provisions.
Ending: Council did not adopt final amendments on July 15 (first reading required under charter). Staff said it will place the proposed ordinance for future adoption and recommended a staged approach — adopt the rewrite to comply with state law and then address PDD, streetscape and similar topics in separate follow‑up meetings or workshops.","City staff told the City Council on July 15 they propose deleting the standalone Sustainability and Commercial‑Industrial overlay districts and consolidating legally permissible design standards into Chapter 15 to simplify compliance and bring the code into conformity with state law.",{"_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},6169031,"Council schedules vote on planned 160-foot Verizon monopole at 6004 Grissom Road",567,2941000,3508000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405369-30b08c10879809bc704fb53ca5320173&start=2941&end=3508","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405369-30b08c10879809bc704fb53ca5320173/thumbnail_2941000.jpg","/articles/6169031/Leon-Valley/Bexar-County/Texas/Council-schedules-vote-on-planned-160-foot-Verizon-monopole-at-6004-Grissom-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169031-5526c206c3f9d8e1ba473cbb1464d61b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776153340&Signature=PV6M-4n2R66ALXSD-Q8um~Lo8-uV7f5ftdH69YXx7C3y0aM4H9ptA15CSEQeloNsZWTN4tP4OKrZ3EX470eUBSNMaMm~q14wZXEpst8W7o-GYiMs77ZSsfVhydMMSjGYTMBJ7bNZr3yhVNpn9tkF1iaskuKgoDS6b52A81Lq~6X417YHwR867N-F4cS0JYuDUzbCssg09q6H0uhym8VSEvELO8ihdv7LmZVkg0dMi0vMStfprW-jI~BzO3U7cV3I5JhB8uViWVR-EX440kfhZ~nKVL3q2J5yA9WcftTcG7YDCxwt0KLMed2oPLpY8aZPVqhJpbWEIy~U0zx-~FQhcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council held a public hearing July 15 on a specific-use permit application to allow construction and operation of a 160‑foot monopole telecommunications tower with antennas and equipment within a fenced lease area at 6004 Grissom Road.
Susanna Huerta, Planning and Zoning Director, told the council the property is zoned B‑3 commercial and that the zoning ordinance allows telecommunication towers in B‑3 with a specific-use permit, provided setbacks, fencing, signage and lighting rules are met. Huerta told council staff sent 16 letters to surrounding property owners and reported no written responses were received in favor or opposition.
Applicant representative Alex said the anchor tenant is Verizon Wireless and that the company proposed the 160‑foot height to close a local coverage gap. Alex said existing towers within roughly a mile either lacked sufficient height or available space for co‑location and that APC Towers, the proposed tower owner, will offer the structure for co‑location by other carriers.
No members of the public spoke during the hearing. After discussion, the council directed staff to put the ordinance on the Aug. 5 consent agenda for adoption (this item is a first reading tonight under the city charter; no adoption vote was taken July 15). Planning and Zoning had recommended approval by a 6–0 vote.
Ending: The ordinance authorizing a specific‑use permit will be placed on the Aug. 5 consent agenda; if adopted the permit will allow construction of the monopole and related equipment with required building permits and conditions.","An applicant seeking a specific-use permit to build a 160-foot monopole telecommunications tower at 6004 Grissom Road presented to the council and planning staff recommended approval; Planning and Zoning recommended approval 6–0. Council directed staff to place the ordinance on the consent agenda for the Aug. 5 meeting.",{"_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},6169036,"Leon Valley finance director reports modest sales-tax gain, flags falling red-light camera revenue and reserve draw",1153,725000,1878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405369-30b08c10879809bc704fb53ca5320173&start=725&end=1878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405369-30b08c10879809bc704fb53ca5320173/thumbnail_725000.jpg","/articles/6169036/Leon-Valley/Bexar-County/Texas/Leon-Valley-finance-director-reports-modest-sales-tax-gain-flags-falling-red-light-camera-revenue-and-reserve-draw","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169036-caad6f97e97caa4e0517154df2f2a9e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1776153340&Signature=HTUqp3X~VSk3~eCDLipjk33Ce4zLiRPYjnS5uQZPlVVBZQSoui2SAagfajxlTuCWeCeq0PlNm14IX~qidmisBQ7xXC4PPbRID2RzFV1Ln1rm6aNSrx8YaoDXaFUWMuF3TsjL-J8870U3MCfJawKLswcpJ5Xv1zwdgz32~a2v2VVRnri8825yoprPEKfi-VOAgrvIwnUrxIauD9kgzaiaSbKgnOEWuuvsjIzrtrziJRYVOrRV5r9kdNsf045MEJDeG3XplD6e92wiOwTCn3C1KnFRCDrMUFSlN8E5AgrNli6jfFhluTEfrfcbr5yyLc6E-HFW~RchD6AlXg22PbUSrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leon Valley Finance Director Carol Gehring told the City Council on July 15 that year-to-date sales-tax collections are up about 1.32% compared with the same period last year but remain below the 75% pacing target used in the city’s budget.
Gehring said sales-tax receipts will be adjusted at year end when accruals are posted and two months of collections are factored in. She also told the council general-fund property-tax collections are about 2% lower year to date but that collections remain ongoing.
The presentation turned to a shortfall in red‑light camera revenue. Gehring said the program’s ticket issuance and payments have declined compared with 2024, “and we’re tracking a loss of $235,000,” and that staff expects to use fund reserves to cover the shortfall. She told the council staff anticipates taking “close to $300,000” from the red‑light camera reserve to cover expenses for the coming year and noted the fund balances shown in the presentation were audited as of Sept. 30, 2024.
Gehring reviewed other funds and notable items: water/sewer revenue was tracking close to last year’s totals, with higher combined water-and-sewer sales year to date; the city has not yet received some grants that supported 2024 revenues; and several departments remain below the 75% spending target because of project timing. She told the council the pool reopened in May and that pool and facility rentals contributed to miscellaneous revenue.
Council members pressed for clarification on sales-tax timing and accruals, and on whether red‑light camera reserve draws would be one-time or recurring; staff said use of reserves was a near-term solution and warned the program is not sustainable long term at the current revenue run rate.
Ending: City staff will continue to monitor receipts and return to the council with year‑end accruals and any recommended budget adjustments; councilmember questions prompted staff to offer follow-up spreadsheets and to supply more detailed breakdowns by line item on request.","Finance Director Carol Gehring told the City Council on July 15 that year-to-date sales-tax collections were up about 1.32% compared with last year but below the budget pacing target, and that red-light camera revenue has fallen sharply, prompting staff to draw reserves to cover program costs.",{"_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},6169021,"Council asks attorney to draft short‑term rental changes after residents cite neighborhood impacts",2650,6855000,9505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5405369-30b08c10879809bc704fb53ca5320173&start=6855&end=9505","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5405369-30b08c10879809bc704fb53ca5320173/thumbnail_6855000.jpg","/articles/6169021/Leon-Valley/Bexar-County/Texas/Council-asks-attorney-to-draft-shortterm-rental-changes-after-residents-cite-neighborhood-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6169021-78027c3a3983484e0ea8f14c2e6ae2b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1776153340&Signature=O3IkhCP~FvvPwf8Jep6nZMEmKow9F1Aeel4X7HcoBkcoeSYT9tQSt5PMSCvkb6AiUuK8kG1D-2g~18Z19yuljM6Okby3q0BpLReW~KTmdf6W6HmpDeImm68a9NAgq7WaMGlf0nVji6-QAzyBKJYUyP32MlyKI91FJ~JFOm0TRYV~PfMkZrkciGnzQkkaBbnJk147YBEPY~ZdMdOrdG3dUfu2AbAj~BcZA8R2bRS0IpuGQ8arh8gSwntSzEhNLjcpE3CONwFU5QExhXN-QEIqDh6cHxuRv5u4wHboIvlbXT8A18U2zoLcJqwZBK2U7FVJnDq19jIoSLuWXzb2p8y54A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmember Campos presented proposed updates to Leon Valley’s short‑term rental (STR) rules during the July 15 meeting and asked staff and the city attorney to prepare an amended ordinance for council review.
Campos told the council the city currently has seven registered short‑term rentals but that online platforms list more properties; staff and council discussed varying listings across Airbnb and VRBO and the difficulty of identifying unregistered rentals. Campos proposed several changes: require a clearer owner‑occupied definition for qualifying STRs; include an acknowledgment on registration that a full‑time commercial STR is not eligible for homestead exemptions; lengthen the minimum separation between STRs from the current 200 feet to 300 feet in residential neighborhoods; and add post‑approval notification to neighbors after staff approves an STR registration.
Speakers at the meeting — including residents and a former councilmember — discussed enforcement challenges, reporting routes to the county tax office for suspected improper homestead claims, and the cost and limits of third‑party monitoring services for platform listings. Applicant and STR‑owner representatives at the meeting urged reliance on existing nuisance and public‑safety codes where appropriate and noted platforms like Airbnb already delist listings that violate platform rules.
Action: Councilmember Campos made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Orozco, directing staff to forward the proposed changes discussed on July 15 to the city attorney for drafting of ordinance amendments. The council voted to send the suggested updates to the city attorney for drafting and return the draft for council review; staff and the attorney will provide legal analysis where required (for example homestead and distance provisions).","Councilmember Campos asked staff to prepare amendments to the short‑term rental ordinance after residents described perceived neighborhood impacts and gaps in enforcement and registration; council voted to send suggested changes to the city attorney for drafting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council opens discussion on dog‑tethering rules; members ask staff to draft no‑chain language and review shelter/fencing standards

Council moves forward with code rewrite: sustainability overlay deleted, rules moved into Chapter 15 for clearer compliance

Council schedules vote on planned 160-foot Verizon monopole at 6004 Grissom Road

Leon Valley finance director reports modest sales-tax gain, flags falling red-light camera revenue and reserve draw

Council asks attorney to draft short‑term rental changes after residents cite neighborhood impacts