A Message From Mayor Chris Riley

LETTER TO LEON VALLEY CITIZENS

From Mayor Chris Riley

March 7^th,  2025

HAPPY SPRING BREAK!

Basura Bash Cleanup of Zarzamora Creek (in front of H-E-B Marketplace) – is this Saturday, March 8^th . Registration is from 8:00- 9:00 am at 5601 Bandera Road. Clean up of Zarzamora Creek will be from 9 am to Noon. If you want to volunteer – just show up! This is the 15^th year the City of Leon Valley has participated and the 30th year of the event and is sponsored by the San Antonio River Authority. Thanks to David Dimaline and our Public Works crew for organizing this event and providing the initial mowing of the creek prior to this event.  We greatly appreciate everyone’s help!

Spring Bloom – Garden like a Texan!  Saturday, March 8^th from 9 am to Noon at SAWS headquarters at US 281 and Mulberry. FREE Texas-tough plant for the first 1,000 guests. Native, herb, and drought resilient plants for sale.  This year’s free event emphasizes saving water and creating landscapes which support bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO)- Please review the Public Participation Plan and take the survey on what future transportation should look like in our region.  This document is online at alamoareampo.org/PPP. We need to hear from you!  Thank you for giving your time and your feedback. Comments are open until March 15^th. 

CITY COUNCIL MEETING –March 4, 2025

      The following are highlights of council actions from the March 4, 2025     council meeting:

PRESENTATIONS

Presentation and Discussion on the Town Hall Meeting (THM) polling results.  Dr. Caldera summarized the following results: In person at THM  - 46 respondents; average age between 60-69.  Online (which was conducted over a two week period): 74 respondents with average age between 30-39. The majority of respondents from THM and online own their home. Question:  What do you love about Leon Valley?  THM: Parks, Community and Security.  Online: Community and location.

What LV services can be improved? THM: Animal Control, Code Enforcement, Police & City Council.  Online:  Skate Park, Parks &  police. Water Provider: THM – 52 respondents with the majority using LV water; Online:  56 respondents with equal usage of LV and SAWS.

     There was extensive polling on different ways to pay for the needed upgrade of Leon Valley’s water and sewer pipes.  Generally, the respondents were in favor of a 2% per year increase over 5 years.  There was less support for capital improvement fees and bonds.

       There was also extensive polling on prioritizing the city’s projects under several different categories.  Virtually all participants supported action on the water and sewer infrastructure.  Other priorities were streets, sidewalks, a Public Works building, dealing with erosion in the Natural Area, the pools and Hike and Bike Trail III.  The online participants expressed strong support for a skate park.  Other projects included were a dog park and pickleball court.

Goals & Objectives – Both THM and online participants supported each city departments’ goals/objectives presented, as well as keeping the community’s eight previous goals. The City Manager offered to present an updated draft of the Goals and Objectives at a workshop.  Council consensus was to have this as a topic at the April 26^th Coffee with Mayor & Council (9 am in the Conference Center).

Presentation to Council and Direction to Staff Regarding Consideration of Increasing Water and Sewer Rates – Council has had numerous workshops over the last year on the condition of our 50 year old water and sewer pipes, the need to address the aging infrastructure, the cost and how to pay for the debt. Council had directed staff to bring back numbers on raising meter fee and usage charge by 2% annually for 5 years, matching our water company’s usage tiers to SAWS and raising the EAA fee from $.62 to $.70/1,000 gal. Director Moritz presented revenue charts showing a 2% increase over 5 years, but applying it to the SAWS tier structure (0-4,000/gal), which is different from the Leon Valley water company tier structure (0-3,000/gal). The result was a decrease in revenue for the first two years.  After a lengthy discussion, Council has requested Director Mortiz to redo the calculation using the SAWS tiers and adjusting the rate so that the projected revenue is in the positive rather than a reduction in revenue.  This rate increase will only apply to the citizens who receive their water from the Leon Valley water company. Council’s goal is to be sure Leon Valley water bills are comparable to SAWS.

Regular Agenda

Discussion of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 12, To Prohibit Parking Along Thistle Drive – A citizen from Leon Valley Ridge subdivision emailed me in January to report an unsafe condition on this street. Large 18 wheeler trucks were parked on both sides of the street and unloading.  Subdivision and emergency vehicles were having a difficult time driving the street because the trucks were impeding vision and causing unsafe traffic conditions as residents and first responders drive in and out of the subdivision. Police Chief Gonzalez recommended signage and the Council suggested adding a red curb. Thank you to the citizen who brought this to our attention.  You made a difference to improve an unsafe condition. The consensus from the Council was to place this agenda item on the March 18^th consent agenda for final approval.

Discussion and Direction to Staff on the Disposition of the Leon Valley Community Pool on Poss & Strawflower – This pool has been losing water and was closed last season due to needed repairs. Estimates to repair the pool was $205,000, not including a new concession stand. Council had already decided to only keep one pool, Forest Oaks, due to the cost of maintaining two pools which are several blocks away from each other.  The Council voted to authorize the expenditure of $34,000 for Public Works to fill in the pool.  Director Moritz presented cost estimates to repurpose this area for a Pickleball Court - $96,625 or a Dog Park $49,125 minus a donation towards the dog park of $20,000, for a net cost of $29,125. A second Community Garden was also suggested for this area. Council decided to get more information on these options before making a final decision.  If you have an opinion on what you’d like to see in this area, please let us know.

An Ordinance Authorizing the Purchase and Installation of an Intersection Conflict Warning System (ICWS) at the Intersection of Evers Rd. and Adair Dr.  A traffic safety assessment was conducted to re-evaluate existing traffic conditions at this intersection.  The traffic engineer recommended a dynamic warning sign.  This system would use cameras to detect vehicles on Evers Rd and when the signage is flashing it would indicate drivers on Adair.  A budget adjustment is requested in the amount of $27,847 from the Red-Light Camera Fund to purchase and install this new equipment. Installing this warning device is predicted to cause a 32% reduction for all crash types.  The consensus from Council was to place this agenda item on the March 18^th consent agenda for final approval.

    Our next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18^th  beginning at 6:30 p.m.  There will be a number of presentations including the Huebner Creek erosion control issue and finalizing the Park Master Plan.

A HUGE THANK YOU

The 35^th annual Earthwise Living Day on Saturday, March 1^st was another successful city event! Thank you to the Earthwise Living Committee members and staff liaison for their organization of this free family event.  We could not put on this event without the monetary and in-kind support from our sponsors, including the City of Leon Valley, Tiger Sanitation, H-E-B, San Antonio River Authority, SAWS, Senator Jose Menendez, Dignity Memorial, SPURS, San Antonio Missions, VIA, CPS Energy and RBFCU. Many thanks to our Public Works department for their set up and tear down of the event, as well as our Police department for their traffic management/security. Lastly, our heartfelt apologies to everyone who brought items to be recycled.  The SA3 Recycling truck broke down and was unable to provide this service.  We are hoping we can reschedule this activity in the near future. We appreciate your understanding. The vendors, entertainment, and door prizes were awesome -  plus it was a gorgeous day!  Mark your calendar for the 36^th annual Earthwise Living Day on Saturday, March 7, 2026!  Thanks for coming!

Have a fun, restful and safe Spring Break to all the families celebrating this annual school break! Please call or email me or any of your council members with any questions or concerns. We are here to serve you.

Sincerely, Chris

mayorriley@leonvalleytexas.gov

(210) 618-2092