Bulverde cameras stay in place; industrial rezoning denied and street plan delayed

Street repairs return in December

Council tabled the fiscal year 2027 street maintenance plan, covering about $1.4 million of construction on 20 streets, to its December meeting. Public Works and engineers from Half Associates are to bring back an updated multiyear plan showing what changed from the plan already made public. That leaves the proposed street list and its comparison with the earlier plan for the next council review; the Nov. 9 action did not approve the work.

Staffing, regional membership and pending contracts

Council created a new Assistant City Manager/City Secretary position in the administration department and approved a $50,000 budget amendment ordinance to fund it. The person in the position may serve in both roles until a planning director is hired. The amendment is a city budget action, not a stated $50,000 increase in any resident's bill.

Council adopted a resolution joining the Hill Country Mayor's Alliance. The mayor will represent the city; annual dues are authorized up to $100 and travel expenses up to $1,000. Council amended the resolution to require the mayor to identify positions that council has not adopted and to report after alliance meetings. The limits describe the resolution's authorized spending, not a report of expenses already incurred.

Council took no action on the interlocal agreement with Comal County for animal control services. The city manager said the contract and its rate would return in December. City Manager Mike Castro characterized the county's position by saying it “has a monopoly on this business”; that is his assessment, not an independently established market finding. Council also took no action on renewing the hotel conference center lease with LHS LTD. The city manager gave an update on a proposed three-year extension, which remains a proposal.

Citizen comments

On the zoning request, Alisa Mcnes, whose name is recorded as heard in the video, said, “I'm concerned about large delivery trucks coming in to deliver their products on an already dangerous stretch of road.” This was her concern about traffic, not a finding that delivery trucks would use the road. The council then denied the rezoning and left the land use designation unchanged.

The Flock discussion drew distinct requests. Cindy Butler framed her objection as a privacy question, asking whether the cameras “violate everybody's right to privacy.” Henry Richard Priest Meyer, whose name is recorded as heard, asked council “to end the current use and any future use.” Stefan Schuster expressed opposition to renewing the contract. The police chief argued for retaining the system, and Hawkins described his own ambivalence. The later cancellation motion failed; none of these speakers is presented as representing all Bulverde residents.

Other recorded business and next records

Council approved the consent agenda covering minutes from Oct. 13, Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 and a Comal Appraisal District board resolution authorizing a $350,000 property purchase. That was approval of the consent block, not a separately recorded vote on each component. Council also approved the infrastructure committee's scope and deliverables with a revised mission statement.

The December council record will show whether the revised 20-street plan and the animal control contract with its rate return for decisions. Residents can check the official Nov. 9 agenda for the proposals considered here and the meeting video for what council actually did.