Cibolo council approves budget amendment, adopts substandard-structure rules and directs studies on traffic and parks; tables Old Town master plan

Cibolo City Council on Jan. 28 approved a series of administrative and policy actions, including its first budget amendment for fiscal year 2025 and a replacement ordinance for substandard building enforcement, and directed staff to fund short-term senior services and study a troubled intersection on FM 1103.

The council adopted a budget amendment that reallocates prior-year savings and covers a set of onetime and recurring needs across multiple funds, and approved a new ordinance to clarify the city’s powers and process for dealing with dangerous, substandard or unsecured structures. Council also directed staff to proceed with a $5,000 traffic-signal warrant study for the intersection of Cibolo Valley Drive and Everyday Way and to pause heavy public use of the Multi‑Event Center (MAC) field while staff returns a repair and cost plan.

Why it matters: The budget amendment and the substandard-structure ordinance give staff clearer authority and short-term resources to abate properties that have not responded to prior notices; the traffic study and field pause respond to immediate public-safety and asset‑management concerns raised by residents and council. Several actions will carry direct costs or require later council approvals, including design and construction work funded from bond proceeds and grants.

What the council decided and directed

- Budget amendment: Council approved the city’s 1st FY25 budget amendment. The ordinance moves prior-year savings and other carryovers into FY25 to cover onetime projects, market- and public‑safety salary adjustments, legal and consultant services, and several roll‑forwards. Staff said the change increases general‑fund appropriations and moves EDC and grant carryforward dollars (including $160,000 for the Old Town/Downtown master plan) into the current year. City finance staff said the amendment keeps an estimated general‑fund ending balance near policy (approximately 30% of recurring expenditures). (See “Votes at a glance.”)

- Substandard-structure ordinance: The council voted to repeal and replace Chapter 14, Article 4 of the Cibolo Code of Ordinances to clarify definitions (including unsecured and dangerous structures), set out the multi-step enforcement process, and assign municipal court as the judicial venue for enforcement hearings (while reserving council’s option to be the judicial body in particular cases). City staff said the new language consolidates procedures, notice forms and a standard checklist so code‑compliance staff can follow a single, consistent sequence of notices, hearings, abatement and lien filing. The change responds to properties that have repeatedly failed to abate hazards, staff told the council. (See “Votes at a glance.”)

- Senior center / Meals on Wheels: Council authorized the city manager to take necessary short‑term actions to sustain the city’s senior meals program and related staffing if outside providers lapse, with contingency authority and costs not to exceed $30,000 in FY25. Staff described an overlap arrangement: Comal County will fund the local part‑time senior‑center coordinator through March 31, and ACOG is issuing an RFP to replace county services beginning March 1; the city asked for authorization so there is no interruption to meal delivery or the coordinator position if the transition slips. City staff said the ask is intended as a bridge and that the city hopes not to expend general‑fund dollars beyond what’s necessary. (See “Votes at a glance.”)

- Cibolo Valley Drive & Everyday Way traffic study: Council directed the city manager to hire the city engineer to perform a traffic-signal warrant study (and related turning‑movement analysis) at the Cibolo Valley Drive–Everyday Way intersection, using existing budget authority (the city manager noted available fund balance previously freed by ARPA allocations). Staff estimated $5,000 for an initial warrant/counts task; expanded lane‑analysis and design would increase that figure (staff cited roughly $10–$12K for an expanded analysis; full signal design and construction later would be substantially larger). Council asked the police department to supply collision data to accompany the warrant study and asked staff to include pedestrian counts. (See “Votes at a glance.”)

- Multi‑Event Center (MAC) field: Council asked staff to provide a cost and repair plan for the MAC natural‑turf field and to pause commercial/league use after a 30‑day notice so turf restoration work can proceed. Staff said irrigation leaks and sustained seven‑day‑a‑week use have left the field in poor condition; staff will return a report showing current rental income, repair estimates and options (including phased closures or maintenance agreements with user groups). Council instructed staff to coordinate notices so local youth leagues and tournament partners have time to rebook. (See “Votes at a glance.”)

- Old Town/Downtown master plan procurement tabled: Council delayed final approval of the professional services agreement for a downtown/Old Town master plan with Lionheart Places (the FY25 EDC budget includes $160,000 for the plan). Several council members and staff noted the posted professional services agreement lacked the Exhibits (scope of work, payment schedule) included in the RFP responses; the council tabled the item and directed staff to bring a corrected PSA with Exhibit A and the complete scope back for consideration. (Item tabled; no final authorization.)

- Planning and infrastructure items: Council approved the preliminary plat for Venato Crossing Unit 6 (a request to create 76 single‑family lots within the Venato PUD); the city explained current vesting to the 2013 Unified Development Code and noted a traffic signal at Deward Overlook and FM 78 will be required once 215 lots are occupied (165 currently occupied). Staff reported the developer submitted updated materials and addressed outstanding engineering comments; council approved the preliminary plat. Council also conditionally approved the replat for a lot north of Legacy Traditional School for possible future commercial development, and granted final acceptance of public infrastructure for Legacy Traditional School and for a new Dutch Bros site. (See “Votes at a glance.”)

- Cibolo Little League: The council approved the establishment of a Cibolo Little League and directed staff to return a formal agreement for council approval. Tony Knight, a Little League district official and local volunteer, outlined a proposed boundary map, charter process, phased field and lighting needs, and volunteer and sponsorship plans. Council members discussed coordination with YMCA and existing fields and asked staff to help with logistics and scheduling. The vote at the meeting authorized the city to move forward with returning a formal operating agreement. (See “Votes at a glance.”)

- Bond‑funded projects update: Staff and consultants presented updates on the two bond propositions approved by voters last fall: Proposition A, a new animal shelter ($9 million approved by voters) and Proposition B, a combined public‑safety facility (police substation + fire station; roughly $17 million approved). Staff said an RFQ for architectural services for the animal shelter will be issued in early February (staff recommended a site near Shafer/Heckerville Road rather than the lower Seguin/creek parcel) and that the public‑safety facility design is moving forward (the council saw a concept fly‑through; staff noted that sewer/wastewater access and possible easement acquisitions are part of the design effort). Council voiced support for issuing the RFQ and advancing design steps; further approvals will be required for design and construction budgets and contracts. (No final construction contract was awarded; RFQ/intent to bid steps were authorized.)

Votes at a glance (recorded at meeting)

- Preliminary plat: Venato Crossing Unit 6 (preliminary plat approval). Vote recorded in the minutes: 7–0 in favor (approved). Action: approval of preliminary plat; staff to record and proceed with permitting conditions.

- Replat and final-acceptance items: Replat for Legacy Traditional School (conditional approval pending easement recordation) and final acceptance of Legacy Traditional School infrastructure: both recorded as approved (minutes record the final votes as approved; transcript indicates council approval). Dutch Bros final acceptance recorded as approved, recorded vote noted as 7–0.

- Old Town/Downtown master plan PSA: Motion to approve Lionheart Places’ professional‑services agreement was TABLED; council unanimously voted to table the PSA until Exhibit A (scope/payment) was attached and circulated (recorded as 7–0 to table).

- Cibolo Little League: Motion to establish a Cibolo Little League and direct staff to return a formal operating agreement: motion carried (the meeting record shows the motion, second and subsequent discussion; a formal vote on the operating agreement will occur when staff returns a draft agreement).

- Senior meals/senior center: Council authorized the city manager to take actions to sustain the senior center and meals program during the ACOG/Comal transition with FY25 bridge authority up to $30,000 (motion and second recorded; council moved the item; the transcript records approval language).

- Traffic warrant study (Cibolo Valley Drive & Everyday Way): Council authorized the city engineer to perform a $5,000 warrant/count study; council directed staff to include pedestrian counts and police crash data and to return recommendations (motion and second recorded; authorization given).

- MAC field: Council directed staff to pause commercial league rentals after a 30‑day notice and to return a restoration and cost plan to council (motion and second recorded; council instructed staff to provide the plan and income/expense analysis before further action).

- Budget amendment (Ordinance): The first FY25 budget amendment was approved by council (motion, second and recorded adoption; the minutes show the ordinance was adopted by vote recorded in the meeting).

- Substandard-structure ordinance (Chapter 14 rewrite): Council approved repeal/replacement of the substandard-structure rules and adopted the new procedural framework for hearings, abatement and lien recording.

What to watch next

- Staff to return: (1) corrected Old Town/Downtown master‑plan professional‑services agreement with Exhibit A (scope and compensation) before any design contract is executed; (2) MAC field repair, scheduling and funding plan; (3) traffic warrant study results and recommended improvements (including signal warrants, turn lanes and estimated costs); (4) proposed agreement language for the Cibolo Little League for council approval; and (5) updates on RFQs for the animal‑shelter design and next steps for the public‑safety facility.

Speakers quoted in this report are identified in council minutes and public‑comment sign‑in: Dr. Vanessa Nason (Bear Area Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta), Tony Knight (District 31 Little League official/Red River Ranch HOA president), Wayne Flores (Colliers, engineer representing the Venato developer), Brian Sims (Colliers, project representative), Aaron Spencer (City planning staff), Joe Reid (City manager), and Stephanie Whitson (senior center staff). The full meeting recording and staff reports include additional names, letters of support and technical memos cited during discussion.

Ending note: Council’s actions emphasize near‑term service continuity (senior meals), asset preservation (MAC field) and clearer enforcement tools for hazardous properties while advancing planning and engineering tasks for longer‑term projects funded by bonds, impact fees and carryover funds. Staff will return to council with the detailed scopes, cost estimates and contract documents required before construction or major expenditures begin.