Seguin City Council approves park improvements, road design services, change orders, zoning updates and sidewalk fee increases

The Seguin City Council voted to approve a set of capital and planning actions, including a construction contract for Starkey Park Golf Course restroom renovation and a range ball shed, authorization to proceed with the next step on the Nolte (Wells Fargo) redevelopment, additional design services for Cordova Road, a change order on Milam Street tied to utility upgrades, first-reading approval of Unified Development Code sidewalk updates, and an increase to the city’s sidewalk fee-in-lieu schedule. The council also approved several zoning changes and authorized property transactions reported from closed session.

Why it matters: The actions approve both immediate construction work and planning steps that shape future development downtown and along major corridors. Approving design and easement-related services advances road and utility projects; changes to the UDC and increase to fee-in-lieu rates affect how new development constructs sidewalks and trails.

Key approvals and outcomes (Votes at a glance):

- Starkey Park restroom renovation and new range ball shed: Council authorized the city to enter into an agreement with the lowest bidder, Sullivan Contracting (Seguin). Motion: Council member Keller moved; Council member Levin seconded. Outcome: Approved by voice vote (motion carries).

- Nolte (Wells Fargo site) redevelopment next step: Council authorized staff to issue an RFP to the top-qualified respondents after the RFQ process (top two firms identified). Motion: Council member Biesenbach moved; Council member Carter seconded. Outcome: Approved by voice vote.

- Cordova Road additional services (illumination design and property descriptions) with Pape Dawson Engineers: Council authorized a $71,520 additional services proposal to the professional services agreement for utility easement property descriptions and illumination design connected to CSJ 091546052. Motion: Council member Levin moved; Council member Reyes seconded. Outcome: Approved by voice vote.

- Milam Street change order No. 16: Council authorized change order No. 16 to D & D Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $88,438.84 to replace a discovered cast-iron water main with PVC and upsize from 6-inch to 8-inch along the Milam Street reconstruction project. Motion: Council member Keller moved; Council member Biesenbach seconded. Outcome: Approved by voice vote.

- Unified Development Code (UDC) sidewalk/trail amendments (ordinance, first reading): Council approved an ordinance on first reading that revises Chapter 5, Section 5.4 of the UDC to require trail continuation for site development, standardize minimum sidewalk width to 5 feet on local streets (12-foot parkway/trail where depicted), and remove a waiver option (fee in lieu remains). Motion: Council member Rea moved; second recorded on the floor. Outcome: Approved on first reading by voice vote.

- Appendix C fee schedule amendment (sidewalk fee-in-lieu): Council approved increases to the fee-in-lieu amounts for sidewalks to align fees with current city construction costs; the fee schedule change followed a public hearing. Motion: Council member Leavens moved; Council member Keller seconded. Outcome: Approved by voice vote.

- Zoning changes: Multiple zoning changes on first reading and accompanying public hearings were approved, including: rezoning a portion of State Highway 46 from MF-3 to Commercial; rezoning two parcels on Preston Drive from R-1 to Commercial (same owner); rezoning several Guadalupe Street parcels to Public (owner: Guadalupe County). Motions and seconds were recorded on the floor for each item; all passed by voice vote.

- Closed-session property actions: Council authorized the city manager to execute a purchase agreement to acquire approximately 0.36 acres of permanent easement/right-of-way from Tyson Farms of Texas Inc. for the North Guadalupe GLO project; the council also approved a motion related to the Geronimo Creek wastewater treatment project discussed in closed session. Motions were made and seconded in open session; both actions were approved by voice vote.

Details and context: City staff said the Starkey Park restroom facility was aged and that TSG Architects prepared plans; Sullivan Contracting submitted the lowest bid. For the Nolte site the city completed an RFQ and scored respondents; the council authorized issuance of an RFP to the top two scorers. For Cordova Road, staff emphasized they will include intersection illumination where warranted and that the traffic-signal analysis already in the design will continue. The Milam Street change order came after crews uncovered a cast-iron water main that did not meet current standards; staff recommended replacing it while the roadway is open to avoid re-excavation later. The UDC amendments aim to make sidewalk requirements clearer and to align local requirements with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the city’s accessibility transition plan; staff emphasized that 4-foot sidewalks require frequent bump-outs for passing under ADA rules and the city prefers a uniform 5-foot minimum.

Budget and contracts: The Cordova Road additional-services amount ($71,520) and the Milam Street change order ($88,438.84) were listed in agenda materials. The council did not adopt a separate budget amendment in open session for these two items during the meeting; staff indicated project budgets account for these changes or that change orders are handled under existing project authorizations.

Next steps: Staff will finalize contracts, issue the requested RFP for the Nolte project, proceed with the additional design services and change-order work, and update the council as projects proceed. Items recorded as first-reading ordinances will return for a second-reading vote as required.

Ending: The council adjourned after a closed session and returned to ratify the closed-session real-estate actions, then adjourned the meeting.