Converse council approves rezoning, annexation, road renaming, engineering contract and $479,000 budget amendment

Converse City Council on April 1 approved several items affecting development and capital work across the city, including a rezoning to permit duplex development, annexation of land in the extraterritorial jurisdiction, the first reading to rename a road and a one‑year contract for city engineering services.

The council approved a rezoning (item 8A) for a 1.0903‑acre tract at the northeast corner of North Street and Legion Drive East from R‑1 (single‑family) to R‑2 (duplex). Sharon Williams, director of community development, told council that R‑2 “would allow them to develop the duplexes as they desire, but it would preclude them from doing the multifamily dwelling,” a change staff recommended to address neighbors’ concerns. The motion was approved by voice vote; the council recorded no roll‑call tally in the meeting minutes.

On item 8B the council approved on second reading an ordinance annexing approximately 7.743 acres near Tranquil Lane and Peaceful Lane that lay in Converse’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. The applicant was present and staff confirmed the property is in Bexar County and within Converse’s ETJ.

On a first reading (item 9A) council approved an ordinance to rename Benz Engelmann Road to Walsam Road to align with the road coming from Windcrest; staff said no one currently lives on that segment and the change should be made before addresses are assigned.

The council awarded a one‑year, renewable contract for city engineering services to Ardura Group and approved an amendment setting a fixed review timeframe. Byron Sanderson, Ardura’s representative, said, “We typically like to return our review within 7 to 10 business days,” and council amended the contract to require a seven‑day maximum for the contract language referencing a “reasonable period of time.”

Council also adopted Resolution 6902025B, a budget amendment totaling $479,000 to cover city manager salary obligations and engineering services. City Manager Lanny Lambert said the $479,000 request covered several needs and explained the breakdown presented to council: funds to cover outstanding payments for prior design work on Tupperwine Phase 2, new engineering services and increased personnel costs; “The proposal is $479,000 to be budgeted 3 different funds,” he said.

Council authorized the city manager to enter a grant‑administration agreement with the Alamo Area Council of Governments to pursue a Southwest Border Regional Commission grant for outdoor recreation infrastructure (North Park). Naina (staff) told council there is “$3,300,000 available for Texas. It is a highly competitive grant.” Staff estimated paving and parking improvements at North Park would cost $545,000 and that the grant requires a 50% local match and a 15% ACOG administration charge; the pre‑application deadline staff gave was April 4.

Other formal actions at the meeting included reappointments to boards and commissions and approval of contract and budget items tied to infrastructure projects. Several items were voice votes; where the meeting used voice tallies, the minutes did not record individual roll‑call vote counts.

What happens next: the rezoning implementation (lot approvals, site plans) will follow separate planning and P&Z procedures; annexation and name‑change ordinances will move through the city’s ordinance process; the Ardura contract starts when signed and staff said use of the consultant will depend on budget allocations and task orders tied to specific projects.

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded in the meeting): - Item 8A: Rezoning 1.0903 acres R‑1 to R‑2 — Motion approved (voice vote). No detailed roll-call recorded. - Item 8B: Annexation ~7.743 acres (second reading) — Ordinance approved (voice vote). - Item 9A: Ordinance renaming Benz Engelmann Road to Walsam Road (first reading) — Motion approved (voice vote). - Item 9B: Resolution authorizing ACOG agreement for Southwest Border Regional Commission grant application — Motion approved (voice vote). - Item 9C: Award contract for city engineering services to Ardura Group (one‑year renewable) with amendment setting 7‑day review period — Motion approved (voice vote). - Item 9D: Budget amendment (Resolution 6902025B) amending FY24‑25 budget by $479,000 for city manager salary and engineering services — Motion approved (voice vote). - Reappointments to commissions (Building & Standards, Planning & Zoning, Parks & Recreation) — Motions approved (voice votes).

All actions are drawn from the April 1 council meeting record and staff presentations; where the council used voice votes the meeting did not provide a roll‑call tally in the public record.