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City council approves consent package including parking code changes, rezoning and economic-development amendment
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Summary
The New Braunfels City Council unanimously approved a consent agenda that included suspension of a proposed CenterPoint Energy rate increase, amendments to city parking rules and two rezoning ordinances. Council also approved the first reading of youth program standards for parks and recreation.
New Braunfels City Council on April 14 unanimously approved a consent agenda bundling several resolutions and second-and-final-reading ordinances, and separately approved the first reading of a Parks and Recreation youth program standards ordinance.
The consent motion — moved by Council Member Larry Spradley and seconded by Council Member Mary Anne Lebowski — carried unanimously after a roll call; no items were pulled for separate discussion. Items approved in the omnibus motion included a resolution to suspend 45 days of the effective date for a gas-utility rate increase proposed by CenterPoint Energy and to continue the city's participation in the CenterPoint Municipalities alliance; an economic-development amendment recommended by the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation supporting an expansion project by Texas Tito's Inc.; multiple code changes related to parking and towing; and two rezoning ordinances.
Why it matters: The omnibus approval implements changes to local parking enforcement, clarifies loading/tow-away zones, updates no-parking zones in a city park and advances two small rezoning requests that alter land-use classifications along IH‑35 South and in the Unicorn Heights Northwest extension. The CenterPoint resolution preserves the city's procedural options while the company’s proposed rate change is under regulatory review.
Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (multiple items listed below): Motion carried unanimously; mover: Larry Spradley; second: Mary Anne Lebowski; roll call: Mayor Neil Leonards — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Campos — yes; Council Member Christopher Willis — yes; Council Member Edwards — yes; Council Member Larry Spradley — yes; Council Member Mary Anne Lebowski — yes; Council Member Ryan — yes. - Resolution suspending the 45-day effective date for a proposed CenterPoint Energy gas rate increase and authorizing continued participation in the CenterPoint Municipalities alliance (resolution; descriptive name from agenda). - Second amendment to an economic development agreement with Texas Tito's Inc., recommended by the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation (EDC). - Second and final reading of an ordinance amending Section 126-346 and Section 86-7 of the Code of Ordinances to revise no-parking zones in Cypress Bend Park (ordinance adopted). - Second and final reading of an ordinance amending Sections 126-367 and 126-369 to revise passenger and freight loading zones to tow-away zones (ordinance adopted). - Second and final reading adopting a civil parking enforcement program for paid public parking, including fines, hearings, appeals, immobilization/impoundment for delinquent accounts, and penalties for impeding enforcement (ordinance adopted). - Second and final reading rezoning approx. 8.4 acres at 3119 IH‑35 South from R2 (single-family/duplex) to C1B (general business) (ordinance adopted). - Second and final reading rezoning approx. 0.2 acres in Unicorn Heights NW Extension Block 2, Lot 7, at 1156 Magazine Avenue from R2 to CO (commercial office) (ordinance adopted). - Second and final reading to amend Section 126-136 to revise bounds of school zones for Lone Star Early (ordinance adopted; agenda description only).
- Public hearing and first reading: Ordinance adopting youth program standards of care for Parks and Recreation (first reading approved unanimously; mover: Larry Spradley; second: Mary Anne Lebowski). The standards apply to city day camps for children ages 5 to 13 and contain minor updates to check-in/check-out software references, CPR/first-aid staff training language, footwear requirements, comment-card procedures and weather-condition policies.
Context and next steps: Several of the code changes were adopted as second and final readings, meaning they take effect according to the city’s ordinance-adoption timeline unless an effective date was separately specified. The Parks and Recreation youth program standards were approved at first reading after a public hearing with no speakers and will move forward per the council’s ordinance schedule.
Council procedure note: The consent agenda was treated as routine; no items were removed for separate debate and the clerk performed a roll call for the omnibus motion.
Ending: The council moved on after the votes to presentations and updates on transit, capital projects and the city’s thoroughfare plan.
