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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Fredericksburg City Council Special Meeting Summary - November 18, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, November 18, 2025

BodyFredericksburg, Texas

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, November 18, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

Good morning, everyone.

0:01

Welcome.

0:02

Thank you for being here for this special meeting.

0:06

I see that we're recording, but we don't have amplification.

0:10

Am I correct?

0:11

So I'm going to need everyone to speak up because we want to honor these people who've made time out of their day to be present to hear the discussion.

Unassigned speaker

0:21

I'll

Speaker 1

0:22

call the meeting to order.

0:23

We not only have a quorum but a full house, right?

0:27

Okay.

0:27

Let's see the everybody here.

0:29

I appreciate the staff making all the arrangements to make it easy on us to have our meeting here and preparing all of the documents and necessary data for us to have meaningful conversations.

0:43

The agenda is to have discussions about several different items that we are not intending to take any action on, just having discussions, and there are some ordinances that we're going to take a look at that will require discussion for any amendments, additions, uh etc.

1:07

But nothing will be decided today, and nothing be acted on.

1:10

It will be giving directions to staff for potential rewriting, adding language, etc.

1:17

I'm very open to comment from the gallery.

1:29

With your comments, and of course, uh, as usual, I will restrict timing on the comments to uh three minutes.

1:37

I do have one person signed up.

1:39

Mr.

1:40

Clinzig, are you here?

1:42

Okay.

1:43

All right, if he if he decides to

Unassigned speaker

1:45

come.

Unassigned speaker

1:47

All

Speaker 1

1:48

right, do we uh I don't have the agenda right in front of me.

1:51

Are we ready to move in?

1:52

Well,

Speaker 2

1:53

could I make a couple

Speaker 1

1:53

Speaker 2

1:54

comments, opening uh comments, uh, mainly for the audience?

1:58

So today we'll we will be discussing five different uh topics.

2:03

I'm calling them minor topics throughout the year as I have discussions with council as we have council meetings.

2:11

I develop a list of topics to discuss at the end of the year uh during special meetings like this.

2:16

Uh it's an opportunity for the council to discuss these items collectively.

2:21

And throughout the year, I've developed a list of 14 individual topics.

2:26

I have three major topics just to give you an idea.

2:30

Uh those range from discussion of fire EMS operations out on the out in the county uh to uh parking management, uh mainly on Main Street, to developing a city the city's strategic plan.

2:45

Uh that will be a multi-meeting uh process, our strategic plan.

2:49

Those are the major topics.

2:51

The minor topics, we're talking about five of those today, but they also include uh discussion of our transportation projects that we've been talking about for some time.

3:00

We've been getting around town talking

Unassigned speaker

3:02

Speaker 2

3:02

to residents during town halls about these transportation projects.

3:06

We have a unified development code that uh development services is uh currently pursuing uh consultant to complete, uh that's on the minor list, water conservation, water conservation is always on the list.

3:20

That's another item I would like to discuss with the council before year end.

3:25

Alcohol on Main Street, another topic that we've discussed on and off throughout the year, and discussion of city-owned property.

3:34

So these are topics that we will combine major and minor topics, uh probably in another meeting, uh tentatively scheduled for December 9th, right now.

3:44

That will be the kick off of our uh strategic planning process, and we'll probably talk about a couple of minor items as well.

3:51

As the mayor mentioned uh this meeting, the purpose is for discussion only.

3:56

Uh we would hope to get uh direction from council on a few of these items, ordinances for instance, we might discuss them.

4:03

Looking for direction to bring specifics back to the council for their approval at some point, probably next year.

4:10

So uh for discussion only, uh, mayor, council, and those that are here today, and with that, I just wanted to mention that Scott Pear will be here between 10 and 10:30 this morning.

4:22

Okay, so if we could be a little bit flexible with the schedule.

Speaker 1

4:26

So council, unless there's objection, we'll follow the agenda as presented unless we need to insert Mr.

4:34

Fair when he comes and bump a topic.

4:37

But I have discussion on brush pickup, leaf pickup fees.

4:41

Chris, do you want to set it up?

Unassigned speaker

4:42

Sure.

Speaker 3

4:42

Good morning, Mary Council.

4:44

Everybody okay?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Zoning And Land Use██████████████████████████26%

Water And Wastewater Management█████████████13%

Waste Management████████8%

Public Engagement████████8%

Procedural███████7%

Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%

Budget Equity Analysis█████5%

Public Safety█████5%

Transportation Safety████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Fredericksburg City Council Special Meeting Summary - November 18, 2025

The Fredericksburg City Council met in a special session on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 9:00 AM in the Cardinal Room. Chaired by Mayor Jeryl Hoover, the meeting was a discussion-only work session with no formal action taken. Council reviewed a range of minor topics including proposed fees for brush and leaf pickup, an annual bulk trash program, the city's property appraisals, and a list of 22 potential zoning and code ordinance amendments.

Consent Calendar

No consent calendar was presented at this special meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

One individual, Mr. Clinzig, signed up for public comment but was not present at the meeting. The Mayor invited and received verbal comments from members of the audience throughout the council's discussion of specific agenda items, which are summarized in the relevant sections below.

Discussion Items

Brush Pickup, Leaf Pickup, and Bulk Trash Services

Director of Public Works Kris Kneese presented cost data for the current free services. The annual cost for brush chipping is $560,000 (approx. $8/month/customer) and leaf collection is $175,000 ($2.50/month/customer). A combined fee of $10/month per customer was proposed, with $530,000 in revenue budgeted starting January 1, 2026.
Council and Public Positions:
- Mayor Hoover and Councilmember Watson felt $10 was too high for some residents, advocating for a $5 fee instead.
- Councilmember Kirchner advocated for a holistic, bundled sanitation fee rather than a separate line item.
- Councilmember Klein raised the difficulty of implementing an opt-out system for properties without trees.
- Audience members expressed mixed opinions. Some felt the service was a core community benefit worth paying full cost for, while others noted the financial burden on young families and retirees.
Bulk Trash: A new annual spring bulky-item pickup was discussed, estimated at $120k annually. Council broadly supported directing staff to develop a plan, though it is not currently budgeted.

GCAD City Appraisals (Scott Fair)

Chief Appraiser Scott Fair detailed the large commercial valuation increases on Main Street, driven by five recent sales that showed appraised values were only 40-60% of sale prices. He highlighted the state's 20% annual increase cap ("circuit breaker") that will phase in these changes.
He warned the council about the upcoming 2026 constitutional amendment raising the Business Personal Property exemption from $2,500 to $125,000, which will exempt most business equipment from taxation and significantly erode the local tax base.
Councilmember Watson inquired about inspection frequency; Mr. Fair stated annual market reviews are preferred but challenged by rapid growth and staffing shortages.

Ordinance Amendments

Reapplication Timeframes (Cliff Cross): Consensus was reached to draft a 6-month waiting period for submitting similar applications after a denial by a city board or council.
Water Conservation: Council supported utility bill surcharges for watering violations (bypassing municipal court) and exploring a reduction in the number of drought stages.
Sidewalks: Staff was directed to update the 2013 Sidewalk Plan and draft an interim ordinance requiring sidewalks for new developments immediately, rather than waiting for the full Unified Development Code.
Standardized Business District (Item 10): Council was open to reviewing the boundaries of the district and allowing existing standardized businesses to relocate within the district via Conditional Use Permit.
Vehicles for Hire (Item 2): Direction given to draft a new ordinance for pedicabs and private drivers covering safety, insurance, and background checks. Uber and Lyft are exempt from the city permit.
Alcohol on Main Street (Item 11): Following a meeting with late-night bar owners, Mayor Hoover and Councilmember Watson concluded there were insufficient public safety issues to warrant restricting after-hours sales at this time.
Fuel Islands (Item 9): Council was open to reviewing the current city-wide limit of three fuel islands through the Conditional Use Permit process.
Parking RVs/Boats/Trailers (Items 20 & 21): Council directed staff to draft restrictions on long-term parking of these vehicles on public streets and private front yards.
General Code Updates: Staff to bring amendments for the Sound Ordinance (applying to commercial areas), Animal Control (microchipping instead of tags), and Peddler Ordinance (90-day permits).
Sign Ordinance: Council expressed interest in updating the sign code to better regulate A-frame signs on sidewalks, illuminated window films, and murals.

Key Outcomes

No Formal Votes Cast: As stated by Mayor Hoover, this was a discussion-only work session; no binding votes were taken.
Fee Decision Deferred: The decision on the specific Brush/Leaf pickup fee amount ($0, $5, or $10) was deferred to the regular City Council meeting on December 2 or December 16, 2025, where a formal ordinance amendment will be voted on.
Bulk Trash Program Approved in Concept: Staff directed to develop an implementation plan for a spring 2026 curbside bulky-item pickup event.
Ordinance Drafting Instructions Issued: Staff will draft specific ordinances and amendments for future council consideration covering zoning reapplication timeframes, irrigation/watering surcharges, sidewalk requirements, vehicles for hire, and parking restrictions.
Tax Base Impact Noted: A significant reduction in the city's property tax base is expected in 2026 due to the expanded Business Personal Property exemption. City Manager to provide a detailed fiscal impact analysis.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everyone. Welcome. Thank you for being here for this special meeting. I see that we're recording, but we don't have amplification. Am I correct? So I'm going to need everyone to speak up because we want to honor these people who've made time out of their day to be present to hear the discussion. I'll call the meeting to order. We not only have a quorum but a full house, right? Okay. Let's see the everybody here. I appreciate the staff making all the arrangements to make it easy on us to have our meeting here and preparing all of the documents and necessary data for us to have meaningful conversations. The agenda is to have discussions about several different items that we are not intending to take any action on, just having discussions, and there are some ordinances that we're going to take a look at that will require discussion for any amendments, additions, uh etc. But nothing will be decided today, and nothing be acted on. It will be giving directions to staff for potential rewriting, adding language, etc. I'm very open to comment from the gallery. With your comments, and of course, uh, as usual, I will restrict timing on the comments to uh three minutes. I do have one person signed up. Mr. Clinzig, are you here? Okay. All right, if he if he decides to come. All right, do we uh I don't have the agenda right in front of me. Are we ready to move in? Well, could I make a couple of comments, opening uh comments, uh, mainly for the audience? So today we'll we will be discussing five different uh topics. I'm calling them minor topics throughout the year as I have discussions with council as we have council meetings. I develop a list of topics to discuss at the end of the year uh during special meetings like this. Uh it's an opportunity for the council to discuss these items collectively. And throughout the year, I've developed a list of 14 individual topics. I have three major topics just to give you an idea. Uh those range from discussion of fire EMS operations out on the out in the county uh to uh parking management, uh mainly on Main Street, to developing a city the city's strategic plan. Uh that will be a multi-meeting uh process, our strategic plan. Those are the major topics. The minor topics, we're talking about five of those today, but they also include uh discussion of our transportation projects that we've been talking about for some time. We've been getting around town talking uh to residents during town halls about these transportation projects. We have a unified development code that uh development services is uh currently pursuing uh consultant to complete, uh that's on the minor list, water conservation, water conservation is always on the list. That's another item I would like to discuss with the council before year end. Alcohol on Main Street, another topic that we've discussed on and off throughout the year, and discussion of city-owned property. So these are topics that we will combine major and minor topics, uh probably in another meeting, uh tentatively scheduled for December 9th, right now. That will be the kick off of our uh strategic planning process, and we'll probably talk about a couple of minor items as well. As the mayor mentioned uh this meeting, the purpose is for discussion only. Uh we would hope to get uh direction from council on a few of these items, ordinances for instance, we might discuss them.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
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Fredericksburg City Council Special Meeting Summary - November 18, 2025

Consent Calendar

No consent calendar was presented at this special meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

One individual, Mr. Clinzig, signed up for public comment but was not present at the meeting. The Mayor invited and received verbal comments from members of the audience throughout the council's discussion of specific agenda items, which are summarized in the relevant sections below.

Discussion Items

Brush Pickup, Leaf Pickup, and Bulk Trash Services

Director of Public Works Kris Kneese presented cost data for the current free services. The annual cost for brush chipping is $560,000 (approx. $8/month/customer) and leaf collection is $175,000 ($2.50/month/customer). A combined fee of $10/month per customer was proposed, with $530,000 in revenue budgeted starting January 1, 2026.

Council and Public Positions:

Mayor Hoover and Councilmember Watson felt $10 was too high for some residents, advocating for a $5 fee instead.
Councilmember Kirchner advocated for a holistic, bundled sanitation fee rather than a separate line item.
Councilmember Klein raised the difficulty of implementing an opt-out system for properties without trees.
Audience members expressed mixed opinions. Some felt the service was a core community benefit worth paying full cost for, while others noted the financial burden on young families and retirees.

Bulk Trash: A new annual spring bulky-item pickup was discussed, estimated at $120k annually. Council broadly supported directing staff to develop a plan, though it is not currently budgeted.

GCAD City Appraisals (Scott Fair)

Chief Appraiser Scott Fair detailed the large commercial valuation increases on Main Street, driven by five recent sales that showed appraised values were only 40-60% of sale prices. He highlighted the state's 20% annual increase cap ("circuit breaker") that will phase in these changes.

He warned the council about the upcoming 2026 constitutional amendment raising the Business Personal Property exemption from $2,500 to $125,000, which will exempt most business equipment from taxation and significantly erode the local tax base.

Councilmember Watson inquired about inspection frequency; Mr. Fair stated annual market reviews are preferred but challenged by rapid growth and staffing shortages.

Ordinance Amendments

Reapplication Timeframes (Cliff Cross): Consensus was reached to draft a 6-month waiting period for submitting similar applications after a denial by a city board or council.

Water Conservation: Council supported utility bill surcharges for watering violations (bypassing municipal court) and exploring a reduction in the number of drought stages.

Sidewalks: Staff was directed to update the 2013 Sidewalk Plan and draft an interim ordinance requiring sidewalks for new developments immediately, rather than waiting for the full Unified Development Code.

Standardized Business District (Item 10): Council was open to reviewing the boundaries of the district and allowing existing standardized businesses to relocate within the district via Conditional Use Permit.

Vehicles for Hire (Item 2): Direction given to draft a new ordinance for pedicabs and private drivers covering safety, insurance, and background checks. Uber and Lyft are exempt from the city permit.

Alcohol on Main Street (Item 11): Following a meeting with late-night bar owners, Mayor Hoover and Councilmember Watson concluded there were insufficient public safety issues to warrant restricting after-hours sales at this time.

Fuel Islands (Item 9): Council was open to reviewing the current city-wide limit of three fuel islands through the Conditional Use Permit process.

Parking RVs/Boats/Trailers (Items 20 & 21): Council directed staff to draft restrictions on long-term parking of these vehicles on public streets and private front yards.

General Code Updates: Staff to bring amendments for the Sound Ordinance (applying to commercial areas), Animal Control (microchipping instead of tags), and Peddler Ordinance (90-day permits).

Sign Ordinance: Council expressed interest in updating the sign code to better regulate A-frame signs on sidewalks, illuminated window films, and murals.

Key Outcomes

No Formal Votes Cast: As stated by Mayor Hoover, this was a discussion-only work session; no binding votes were taken.

Fee Decision Deferred: The decision on the specific Brush/Leaf pickup fee amount ($0, $5, or $10) was deferred to the regular City Council meeting on December 2 or December 16, 2025, where a formal ordinance amendment will be voted on.

Bulk Trash Program Approved in Concept: Staff directed to develop an implementation plan for a spring 2026 curbside bulky-item pickup event.

Ordinance Drafting Instructions Issued: Staff will draft specific ordinances and amendments for future council consideration covering zoning reapplication timeframes, irrigation/watering surcharges, sidewalk requirements, vehicles for hire, and parking restrictions.

Tax Base Impact Noted: A significant reduction in the city's property tax base is expected in 2026 due to the expanded Business Personal Property exemption. City Manager to provide a detailed fiscal impact analysis.

Meeting Transcript