Cibolo council hears appraisal-district renovation plan, approves CEDC on-call contracts and several infrastructure items

The Cibolo City Council on May 27 considered a multiyear proposal from the Guadalupe Appraisal District to acquire and renovate the former schoolhouse at 216 East College Street and approved several requests and contracts affecting economic development and subdivision infrastructure.

The appraisal district presentation, given by Chief Peter Sneddon, described capacity constraints at the district's current building and proposed acquiring a three-story, renovated facility on a four‑acre site. Sneddon said probable renovation costs for a three‑story buildout are about $8.4 million, with site acquisition bringing the total to “just shy of $10.3 million.” He told the council the appraisal district cannot issue bonds and must be funded by the taxing units it serves; under the district’s current plan 28 taxing entities would be eligible to vote on the project and the district would need approval from 21 of those 28 taxing units to move forward. Sneddon said the first payment installment would not be due until 2027 and suggested the district could sell its existing facility and use recurring unspent budget funds (he said the district typically returned about $300,000 a year) to help pay principal.

Why it matters: the appraisal district handles property valuations and appeals for many local taxing units; a larger facility is intended to address longer appeal seasons and public access during peak periods. The plan, as presented, shifts most of the financial and approval burden to the appraisal district’s member taxing units rather than the City of Cibolo directly.

Council debate and a request for a city resolution: Council members asked for timing, contingencies (asbestos/lead in an older building), and how cost overruns would be handled. Sneddon said his board included contingency amounts and that any overrun would be taken back to his board for approval. Councilman Ben Hicks and Councilman Mahoney moved and seconded a resolution to the council relating to the district’s request; the transcript records the motion but does not specify the council vote outcome in the public record provided. The record shows council members pressed for clarity on the approval threshold among the district’s taxing entities (Sneddon reiterated the need for 21 of 28 votes) and on whether sale proceeds from the district’s current site would be dedicated to debt reduction.

On economic development contracts: the council approved four master services agreements (MSAs) recommended by the Cibolo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) for on‑call economic development services. Clancy Harden summarized the competitive process and identified the four firms the CEDC recommended: The Silvis Group, TXP, Smith Engineering Associates and HDL Companies. Harden told the council the on‑call total budget line is $75,000 per year (type B funds) and that work would be issued by work order through the CEDC board and staff. "These are paid through type b, Civil Economic Development Corporation funds," Harden said.

Council members praised having multiple firms with different specializations on a roster but also pressed staff for pricing details before work orders are issued. Councilmember Katie Cunningham and others asked that hourly rates or not‑to‑exceed amounts be included in scopes of work so the CEDC and council are not surprised by invoices; staff responded the MSAs function like the city’s on‑call engineering agreements and that pricing and a maximum would be set on individual work orders as projects are defined. The council approved the MSAs by motion (mover: Councilwoman Cunningham; second: Councilman Jeff McLaughlin); the recorded vote in the transcript is 5–2 in favor.

Infrastructure and subdivisions: staff recommended preliminary acceptance of public infrastructure for Bella Rosa Unit 3 (57 residential lots, three open space lots and one drainage lot). Public works staff reported punch‑list items were completed and recommended preliminary acceptance of the public water, sewer and street improvements; Councilman McLaughlin moved, Councilman Randy Roberts seconded, and the council voted to preliminarily accept the infrastructure (vote recorded as 7–0).

Sign license and monument sign: the council approved a 10‑year nonexclusive license agreement allowing YM Cibolo LLC/HOA to construct and maintain a monument sign for Bella Rosa Unit 3 in the public right‑of‑way, with the HOA responsible for maintenance and required indemnity insurance. Motion carried 7–0.

Donation and public notice board: council discussed a donation agreement for a public notice board that D and D Contractors constructed and donated to City Hall. Staff reported the contractor provided invoices showing the full cost at $24,403.37 and that a donation agreement was executed earlier in the year. Several council members expressed concern about optics and procurement timing; others emphasized the company’s long working relationship with the city. By motion the council accepted the donation and directed the city manager to draft a letter of appreciation; the vote recorded in the transcript is 6–1 in favor.

Executive session outcomes and ETJ releases: the council met in executive session to consult with counsel on two requests to release tracts from the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). After returning to open session, Councilman Hicks moved to deny the request to release an 18‑acre tract and later moved to deny a request to release a joint 67‑acre tract; both motions were seconded by Councilman Mahoney and the record shows each denial carried 7–0. Council statements tied the denials to ongoing litigation and questions about state law on ETJ releases.

Other action and direction: the council voted to formalize a planting of a memorial tree for community volunteer Sue Bassone (motion, 7–0) and set a date for the 2026 strategic management workshop for March 28, 2026 (motion carried 7–0). Council also agreed to hold a special meeting for board/commission appointment and removal matters at 6 p.m. before a regular meeting in June and directed staff to return appointment resolutions (for example, a planned June 10 resolution to remove and replace the city representative on the Canyon Regional Water Authority — the council directed staff to prepare a resolution to remove Jacob Parsons and place Chris Hubbard on the CRWA board).

What’s next: staff flagged several follow‑ups for the council: the appraisal‑district proposal will require separate approval by the district’s taxing entities (a separate inter‑agency process outside the council’s direct budget authority); Chief Peter Sneddon said 21 of 28 taxing entities must approve the district plan. The CEDC will return with defined scopes and pricing for any on‑call work orders; staff said hourly rates and not‑to‑exceed amounts will be attached to individual work orders before funds are expended. Chief Mario Trancoso will present an emergency‑shelter preparedness update at the June 10 meeting, and the council’s CIP subcommittee was asked to meet before June 17 to refine the proposed five‑year capital improvement plan.

Quotes drawn from the meeting: Chief Peter Sneddon on the appraisal district’s capacity: "we've reached the end of our capacity on functional utility of this." Clancy Harden on funding for the MSAs: "These are paid through type b, Civil Economic Development Corporation funds."

The council’s packet includes staff reports, procurement and donation paperwork, the appraisal district presentation and the CEDC RFP materials; many follow‑up items are scheduled for the June 10 and June 17 agendas.