Council pauses Hebner Creek overhaul after debate over designs, costs and trees

The City Council on March 1 voted 3–1 to pause further work on a proposed redesign of Huebner Creek after months of discussion over alignment, heritage trees and construction costs.

City engineers presented three principal options for the stretch between Bandera Road and Pass Road: an earlier design estimated at about $3.0 million, a modified alignment keeping work within the existing creek bed (staff’s “realignment”) at about $7.0 million with concrete riprap, and a heavier retaining‑wall option that engineers estimated near $10 million. Staff said an “erosion‑only” approach targeted at critical scour areas could be much less but warned such a band‑aid would likely not qualify for some state and federal grants.

Council members raised competing priorities: some urged moving forward with the mid‑range realignment that staff said would remove fewer trees than the original alignment; others argued the lower‑cost erosion alternative risked leaving the creek and private utilities exposed. Councilor Campos argued for immediate erosion work while he pursued help from Bexar County and the San Antonio River Authority; Councilor Bradshaw and others highlighted the potential to remove more properties from the floodplain with the original alignment. Several members also pressed for additional environmental studies (scour and tree impacts) that remain incomplete.

After discussion Councilor Campos moved and Councilor Heil seconded a motion to pause the project and seek further engagement with Bexar County and the San Antonio River Authority; the motion passed 3–1 (Yes: Campos, Orozco, Heil; No: Bradshaw). Separately, the council declined to approve staff’s immediate expenditure of existing stormwater funds to obtain a formal “probable erosion‑only cost” estimate; staff said they would return with additional funding options and could solicit county and regional partners.

Staff reported the city has spent about $245,000 on studies and design so far and retains roughly $586,000 in the project budget. Staff and council discussed grant options (FEMA, Texas Water Infrastructure Fund) but noted reduced‑scope erosion work may be ineligible for many grant pools. Council directed staff to continue outreach to county and regional partners and to report back with clearer cost estimates and grant possibilities.