A Message From Mayor Chris Riley

LETTER TO LEON VALLEY CITIZENS

From Mayor Chris Riley

November 8, 2024

NOVEMBER 11, 2024 – VETERANS DAY

     Veterans Day is a U.S. legal holiday dedicated to American veterans.  In 1918, on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month, an armistice, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in World War I, then known as “the Great War”.  Commemorated in many countries as Armistice Day the following year, November 11^th became a federal holiday in the United States in 1938.  In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became known as Veterans Day.

       Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day – a common misunderstanding.  Memorial Day honors American service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle. Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans, living or dead, who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.  To all Veterans in Leon Valley, thank you for your service.  We honor you on November 11^th.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING –November 5, 2024

      The following are highlights of council actions from the November 5^th   council meeting:

PRESENTATIONS

Proclamation honoring November 15^th as Texas Recycles Day – This proclamation was presented by the city to the Earthwise Living Committee to encourage citizens to reduce, reuse, and recycle valuable resources, to raise awareness about recycling, and to buy recycled products. Contamination of recycled goods is the number one barrier to recycling programs – please be sure to follow Tiger Sanitation’s guidelines on what you can and cannot recycle. Please keep all recyclable materials empty, clean and dry.  Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 1^st for the 35^th annual Earthwise Living Day at the Community Center!

GOOD Neighbor Award was presented to Jaci Randel with Bexar Branches Alliance (BBA) for her leadership in Project Canopy, partnering with NISD in planting 145 trees at Driggers Elementary School.  Additionally, Jaci led the effort to raise money and volunteer support for planting 235 trees along the city’s newly constructed Huebner Creek Greenway Trail, from Bandera Road bridge down to the Shadow Mist Trail Head. This effort was made possible by Bexar Branches Alliance, The Arbor Day Foundation, Cox Enterprises, Texas by Nature, H-E-B Trees for Texas, Accenture, and the City of Leon Valley.  Special thanks to the over 75 volunteers from all ages who helped plant the trees.  The City of Leon Valley dug the holes for the trees and has made a three-year commitment to keep these trees watered. Thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers, public works department and BBA for helping the City reach its goal of planting 10,000 trees by the end of 2025. This is a beautiful place to walk along the creek – Check It Out!

Presentation and Recommendation by the Solid Waste Committee for City Solid Waste Services - Former Councilmember Josh Stevens, chair of this committee, reported to council the committee received 4 proposals.  Upon initial review, the committee paired down the choice between Tiger Sanitation and Frontier Waste Solutions. The base rate (1 recycling and one trash cart) per week for Tiger was $18.32 per month, which included 4 extra bags of trash and bulk/brush pickup 2 times per year. This rate does NOT include household hazardous waste (HHW).  Tiger will charge $30 extra for every yard over the 8 cubic yards for bulk/brush pick up. Frontier‘s base rate was $19.00 per month, which included HHW ( 1 time per month per resident) and bulk/brush 2 times a year.  It did NOT allow any extra bags or bundles. Frontier also charges $30 extra for every yard over 8 cubic yards for bulk/brush pick up. Tiger offered an add-on charge of $1.65 per month for twice a year HHW waste drop off, but the committee did not recommend this extra charge.  In the garbage survey, the majority of citizens supported having a HHW option. The Solid Waste Committee recommended entering into a 5 year contract with Tiger Sanitation (with options for (2) 2-year renewals). The Council directed the City Manager to negotiate a contract and bring it back for consideration at the November 19^th council meeting, with an option for HHW.

REGULAR AGENDA

Council Considered Amending a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for Construction of Automobile Storage Canopies to Add Self- Service Storage Units at 5426 Grissom Road.  A Public Hearing was held and there was no opposition to amend the SUP.  The Council is expected to give final approval of this SUP in the Consent Agenda on the November 19^th council meeting.

Discussion to Consider Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into Contracts for the Purchase of 105 Acre-feet of Water Rights.   This was a follow up from the September 20^th meeting on purchasing 100 acre-feet of water for the city’s future water needs for the 583 new homes being built in our city over the next 3-5 years and for critical period drought management. Unfortunately, the September offer was no longer available. The staff has estimated that an additional 300 acre-feet of water rights is needed to meet the above needs. 

        The city has now found other sellers willing to sell the city 75 acre- feet of water at a cost of $10,600 per acre-foot, and 30 acre-feet at $11,000 per acre-foot, for a total of $1,138,400 needed to secure these water rights.  This is within in the approved budget of $1,210,000. The City currently owns 1789 acre-feet of water rights and this purchase will increase our amount to 1885 acre-feet.

        At the September 20^th meeting, Melinda Moritz, Public Works Director, summarized how the City could pay for these water rights:  $700,000 from the Enterprise Fund balance (impact fees from developers); plus, the $240,000 currently in the budget to purchase water rights, leaving a balance of $270,0000 taken from the General Fund Reserve. The City will be able to refund the $270,000 back to the General Fund Reserve from future impact fees. The impact fees paid by the developers can only be used to pay for water rights and new infrastructure due to new developments.

        There was discussion on purchasing water rights versus leasing water rights and the costs associated.  Additionally, Council requested Ms. Moritz to contact SAWS to see if they would be willing to lease water and what the costs will be. This agenda item was tabled until the November 19^th council meeting in order to receive additional information from staff before the Council votes on this item. We cannot live without water and it is becoming more valuable and expensive.

Council Approved Cancelling The Following Four Council Meetings in 2025: January 7^th following the Winter Holiday break (December 24 – January 1, 2025); June 17^th – Summer break for council and staff; July 1^st due to preparation of the 4^th of July city celebration; and October 7^th to participate in Texas National Night Out.

       Our next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19th,  at 6:30 pm.  If there is an executive session, that part of our meeting will  begin at 6:00 pm.  

       Have a great weekend.  We received much needed rain this week – but more is sorely needed due to a prolonged drought. Still waiting for our first freeze – not sure when to expect it since we are still in the 80’s during the day. The Council and I are here to serve if you have any questions/concerns. 

Sincerely, Chris

mayorriley@leonvalleytexas.gov

(210) 618-2092