Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance Appointments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Helotes council approves board appointments, Patrol Interceptor purchase and TxDOT‑related variances; names mayor pro tem
Summary
The Helotes City Council on May 22 approved reappointments and new appointments to land‑use boards, authorized a patrol‑vehicle purchase not to exceed $60,000, approved two TxDOT‑related right‑of‑way variances, selected Sabrina McGowan as mayor pro tem and appointed Shannon Del Toro as municipal court administrator.
The Helotes City Council on May 22 approved several routine governance actions, including reappointments and new appointments to land‑use boards, the purchase of a replacement patrol vehicle, two variances tied to Texas Department of Transportation right‑of‑way determinations, the selection of a mayor pro tem and the appointment of a municipal court administrator.
Council approved two‑year reappointments to the Board of Adjustment (terms to run with the mayor’s term through May 2027) for Elizabeth Mendez (Place 1), Charles Roberts (Place 2), Robert Logue (Place 3), Todd Compton (Place 4), Brian McKee (Place 5) and alternates Cody Marshall and Michael Gutierrez. The council also approved Planning and Zoning Commission appointments for Anne Caraway (Place 1), Justin Hanson (Place 2), Jason Whiteman (Place 3), Alex Blue (Place 4) and Greg Michael (Place 5).
The council authorized the purchase of a replacement patrol vehicle — described in the staff packet as a 2025 Ford police interceptor with related equipment — at a cost not to exceed $60,000.
Council members approved two variances related to right‑of‑way dedication under Chapter 78 (Subdivisions) after staff reported Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and city engineers had indicated no dedication was required. City staff told the council that TxDOT had provided letters certifying that the dedications were not required; the council said it would typically defer to TxDOT on such matters.
Sabrina McGowan was nominated and approved as mayor pro tem. The council also appointed liaisons to outside entities: Craig Sanders was named liaison to the Economic Development Corporation, Dave Kato was named liaison to the Board of Adjustment and Buck Russell was named liaison to Planning and Zoning.
The council approved Shannon Del Toro as the municipal court administrator following the retirement of the prior administrator, identified only by her first name, Yolanda. Council members said they were pleased with the applicant pool and the selection; staff reported 55 applicants were considered for the municipal court administrator vacancy, and Del Toro was chosen from the finalists. A council member noted Del Toro was coming from Garden Ridge.
Before returning to open session the council met in closed session under the Texas Government Code sections cited by the mayor: 551.071 (consultations with the city attorney), 551.074 (personnel matters) and 551.087 (economic development negotiations). The mayor stated the council would make no decisions while in executive session; the meeting returned to open session later and the items above were voted on.
Where the record shows motions and seconds, the council voted to approve the items as presented; meeting minutes show multiple motions carried and several items were adopted without further discussion. The council did not attach additional conditions to the variances beyond staff's description that TxDOT and the city engineer had approved the dedication status.
