Highlights from the December 7 City Council meeting and issues under discussion for the January 4 meeting.
December 7, 2023 Meeting
Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Wimberley.
In December, Mayor Gina Fulkerson proclaimed January 15, 2024 “Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Wimberley.
Muralist Selected for Oak Park Welcome Center Mural At the December 7 meeting, the Council received a presentation from the Wimberley Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance. Leanne Kirby, Tourism Director, introduced Don Minnick of WVACA who provided an update on the call for artists for the Oak Park mural project. Four submissions were made by four different artists and the committee selected two. After review and follow-up with both artists, one project stood out — a mural proposed by artist Wade Woehrmann. The proposed mural incorporated the Texas Cultural District and the city’s Film Friendly, Dark Sky and Music Friendly designations in the design. After deliberation, the council approved the design and the consensus was to move forward with the project. Council Member Chris Sheffield will work with Kirby to ensure that the desired design elements are incorporated.
Proposed Crosswalk on Old Kyle Road
Tim Patek, City Administrator, introduced Ryan Bell with Gilpin Engineering to discuss the proposed crosswalk on Old Kyle Road. Mayor Fulkerson and Mayor Pro Tem Minnick suggested a crosswalk on Old Kyle Road be considered due to safety concerns. A survey was completed by Gilpin Engineering and Mr. Bell presented this to the Council and outlined the accessibility and features that would be included. The Council wants to ensure there is safety lighting and proper accessibility at this crossing. Upon completion of discussion, consensus was to move forward with the project.
Updates regarding Floodplain Administration
Nathan Glaiser, Director of Planning and Public Works, introduced Eric Van Gaasbeek, Hays County Floodplain Administrator, to the Council to provide updates on Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain maps. He provided an overview on the process as well as the process for issuing floodplain permits. He stated that FEMA released preliminary flood maps in 2017, 2019, and 2022, and as it stands now, there is no date scheduled when final maps will be ready. He is hopeful it will be within the next few months and once they are ready, the City will have about 30 days to adopt new floodplain regulations that will include these updated maps. Van Gaasbeek explained the process and importance of floodplain permitting because unpermitted uses could cause future damage to other structures if the city were to see another flood event. He suggested the city enter into the Community Rating System (CRS) program through FEMA as it could potentially help citizens get cheaper flood insurance premiums. The Council posed questions related to the delay in receiving updated maps and Van Gaasbeek explained that some delays were caused by COVID and there were also appeals when maps were released in 2017 and 2019 which caused further delays. The Council asked what impact citizens would see if the city were to adopt a more stringent ordinance. He said there could be increased costs for homeowners who would be required to elevate their home. Upon completion of the discussion, Mr. Van Gaasbeek, suggested amending the floodplain ordinance so that when maps are ready, they can be brought back to the council for approval. From there, the document would be sent to the Texas Water Development Board for review.
Historic District Design Guidelines
Director of Planning and Public Works, Nathan Glaiser, proposed a postponement to amend Chapter 1, Section E of the Historic District Design Guidelines to the second meeting in January. This will allow the Planning and Zoning Commission an opportunity to review and provide a recommendation.
January 4 Meeting City Plans for April 8 Solar Eclipse
In the December 7 meeting, Community Liaison Ted Gartner introduced himself to the City Council, and provided his professional and personal background. He, along with city Tourism Director, Leanne Kirby, will gather a team to plan the April 8 solar eclipse that is expected to bring a large number of tourists to Wimberley. Gartner provided data about the number of people who visited Wimberley in April 2023 and noted that the eclipse in 2024 could bring two to five times that number. He wants to ensure that the community is informed about the impact the event will have on locals and businesses, especially on the weekend leading up to the eclipse.
During the January 4 meeting, the Council will discuss the possibility of closing the town square and Old Kyle Road if it is thought to be a necessity.
Pedestrian and Vehicle safety on RR12
A TxDOT Plan to increase pedestrian and vehicle safety on RR12 at the Wimberley Square, called the TxDOT Delineator Plan, will be reviewed and discussed.
Flood Damage Prevention and Antenna Facilities
Nathan Glaiser, Director of Planning & Public Works will discuss Flood Damage Prevention and Antenna Facilities with regard to the City Code of Ordinances.
Election Services City Secretary Tammy Heller will discuss with the Council two items in connection with the May 4 General Election for the City of Wimberley. One will be to Contract with Elections Services with the Hays County Elections Administrator for the May 4 election and to discuss a Joint Election Agreement between Hays County and the City of Wimberley.
