Leon Valley planning staff announces departure; replacement to come from Helotes

Melinda Huerta, a city planning staff member, told the Planning and Zoning Commission that the meeting was her last and thanked commissioners for the opportunity to work with them. A city staff member announced the city has selected a replacement and said the new hire—identified in the meeting as Michael Guyard—will be introduced to the City Council at its Sept. 2 meeting and will attend the commission’s next meeting. The staff member said Guyard comes from the City of Helotes, where he served as planning and zoning coordinator and that he holds a master’s degree in public administration. The staff member told the commission the city interviewed six applicants for the position and praised the applicant pool. Huerta said the new staff member will work closely with existing planning staff on procedures and that full information about the hire will be distributed to commissioners before the City Council introduction. No formal personnel action or vote was recorded in the planning commission meeting; the announcement was presented as an administrative update and parting remark from Huerta.