The city of Wimberley finalized the different funding mechanisms the city is using to pay for the multifaceted improvement project on Oak Drive. The total cost of construction of the project is $895,995.65 in addition to the original $475,000 cost to purchase the property.
The entire project adds paved parking and a restroom while also functioning as a center for visitors including a pocket park.
The city used tax notes to purchase the property, which included about $275,000 for construction. The city also added around $60,000 for construction into the current fiscal year’s budget. During last week’s city council meeting, the rest of the funds for the project were allocated.
The council approved a $151,000 expenditure, which leaves around $1 million unallocated in the city’s general fund.
The city was also able to use American Rescue Plan funds from the federal government, which was passed by Congress in 2021 as a COVID-19 stimulus package. Those funds will pay for $280,000 of the parking lot addition. When Sonora Bank opened, the company announced a $50,000 donation to the city of Wimberley. The city elected to use that donation to fund the pocket park that will be a part of the project. A plaque will be added to the park in honor of Sonora Bank’s donation. The visitor’s center facility that will be built on the site will offer restrooms as well as an information kiosk, porches and benches. The portion of the project intended for visitors will be paid for with Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds.
“We did a calculation to figure out how much of that entire project would be,” City Administrator Mike Boese said. “HOT can only be used as a visitor center in this project. It can’t be used for infrastructure, so we figured that out to be about 6% of the total project, and that is where the $80,000 figure came from.”
Councilmember David Cohen asked the city for confirmation that this was an appropriate use of Hotel Occupancy Funds under the requirements of the state statute. After discussing with legal counsel in executive session, Cohen moved to approve the HOT fund expenditure adding to the motion the “affirmation that that expenditure was permitted under the statute.” The motion passed unanimously.
In a separate but related project, the council passed an additional $50,000 expenditure funded by the American Rescue Plan. The funds will be spent with Wimberley Water Supply Corporation to upgrade the waterline down Oak Drive.
“This doesn’t increase our costs very much, but it does allow for fire hydrants to be located along the parking lot and make sure the visitors center and restrooms have adequate water-flow,” Boese said. “But also, it does increase the ability for there to be economic development along that roadway. Currently, with a two-inch water line, there would be no more taps added to the twoinch line, so if a business purchased property and wanted to do something that council approved, they wouldn’t be able to get water for it. So this project does help us increase potential sales tax in the area in the future.”
The contractor has un til around the end of May to finish the project with the city hoping that it will be completed sooner. This project will also soon end the use of the restroom trailer in the middle of the Wimberley Square. Boese stated that it would be moved in the next few weeks to the construction area on Oak Drive and will operate there until the permanent restrooms are complete.
In other news, the council unanimously approved a raise for Boese and extended his contract.
“I think across the board, unanimously and enthusiastically, we are really thrilled with the work you are doing here,” Mayor Gina Fulkerson said. “The connections you are making, the relationships you are building, the improvements to public safety, the improvements to emergency input and plan and the work you are doing with the nonprofits on that. The Oak Street project is going well and the financial accountability and management has improved dramatically as has our communication and the upgrades made there. I think we are where we are on our goals and objectives because of great leadership, and I thank you for all the hours and hard work you’ve put in. We are very happy that you are here.”
The city administrator’s new annual salary is $135,000 per year. The additional year means it is now a three year contract, which now expires in 2025.
