Helotes council approves framework to renew Market Days joint‑use agreement with Bluffs of Old Town LLC

The Helotes City Council on a vote approved a motion authorizing the mayor to continue negotiating and execute a renewed joint‑use agreement with Bluffs of Old Town LLC for Helotes Market Days, provided the financial terms in the draft do not change; the motion passed 4–1.

City Administrator Henry told the council the existing agreement recently reached the end of its natural term and the city and Bluffs of Old Town LLC — represented by Ken and Mary Dempsey — had negotiated a draft anticipating a five‑year renewal with scheduled rent amounts beginning April 1 and running through April 2029. “We have had good faith negotiations and discussions,” City Administrator Henry said, adding that a few administrative points remained open but that the financial schedule shown on the agenda was not changing.

The matter drew questions from several council members about approving terms that are still under negotiation. Council Member Merchant and others said they were uncomfortable signing off on an agreement that was not finalized; some asked whether the council should move into an executive session to consult the city attorney about negotiation strategy. Council Member Sabrina and Council Member Chad said they were satisfied that the dollar amounts would not change and preferred to avoid delaying the contract, citing timing concerns for the upcoming market date.

Ken Dempsey, a managing member of Bluffs of Old Town LLC, described his role in creating Helotes Market Days and the event’s growth. “When I moved here, Old Town was pretty much a ghost town,” Dempsey said, recalling the market’s start and its expansion to more than 200 vendors on some months. He told council that outstanding negotiation points were “not money wise. It’s just other things in the contract.”

After discussion, the presiding official offered to amend the motion to clarify that approval was contingent on no changes to the financial terms. Council members then voted; the motion passed with four ayes and one nay. The council directed that if remaining issues cannot be resolved, the item will return to a future meeting. The mayor was authorized to complete the negotiation and sign the agreement when both parties reach final terms.

Helotes Market Days is a monthly street market in Old Town Helotes that council members said draws thousands of visitors and is important to local businesses. The renewed draft in the packet anticipates a five‑year schedule of monthly rent increases through April 2029; other contract details under negotiation were described by participants as primarily administrative rather than financial.