Kerrville City Council Workshop Summary – October 28, 2025

This City Council workshop was held on October 28, 2025, at 4:00 PM in City Hall, 701 Main Street, Kerrville, Texas. The meeting included public comments, discussions on a proposed exterior enhancement grant program, a flood recovery update, and an update from the Kerr Economic Development Corporation (KEDC). No formal votes were taken; items discussed were expected to be brought forward for action at the regular meeting following the workshop. The council also entered executive session for the city attorney’s annual evaluation.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Gabriel Parales (SBA) – Provided an update on federal disaster assistance for the July 4, 2025 flood. He reported that the application deadline for physical damage has been extended to November 27, 2025, and that the business recovery center remains open at the First Presbyterian Church and on the second floor of the library. He stated that over 2,200 applications have been submitted and more than $30 million in assistance has been offered across the declaration area. He also thanked the city for allowing SBA to participate in the Water Street Festival.
• Larry Howard (Resident, 503 Oakland Hills Lane) – Expressed strong support for the proposed exterior enhancement grant program but raised a concern about eligibility for short-term rental properties within the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ #1). He argued that because all properties in the TIRZ contribute to the tax increment, they should all be eligible for grant funding. He urged the council to clarify the language and include short-term rentals.
• Lang Guerrero (Resident, 307 Lakewood Drive) – Provided an update on the Guadalupe River Center project, noting that a foundation is considering contributing approximately $4 million to get the project started. He also discussed the city’s broader recovery needs, stating “we don’t have a two million dollar problem, we have a 20 million dollar problem,” and provided a legislative roadmap for larger infrastructure grants.

Discussion Items

• 2A – Exterior Enhancement Grant Program (Kelly Hagemeier, Economic Development Manager) – Presented a proposed grant program funded with $50,000 from TIRZ #1, offering matching reimbursement grants up to $5,000 per project for exterior improvements to commercial, professional, and retail properties within the zone. Eligible projects include painting, signage, landscaping, parking lot improvements, and dumpster enclosures. A grant committee will review applications based on weighted criteria. Hagemeier noted that short-term rentals were intentionally excluded by the TIRZ board, a decision that generated discussion among council members. Some council members expressed openness to revisiting eligibility in the future, while staff clarified that the program can evolve.
• 2B – July 4 Flood Recovery Update (Michael Hornes, Assistant City Manager; Clinton Carter, Bandera County River Authority) – Hornes reported that debris removal has reached nearly 1.8 million cubic yards and that contractors are nearing completion. He outlined plans for a temporary bridge at Bear Creek, with construction anticipated to begin the week of November 3 and take approximately six weeks, pending FEMA approval. A full bridge replacement will follow separately. Clinton Carter presented a geospatial vegetation loss analysis, showing a 52% loss of riparian vegetation (about 120 acres) along the Guadalupe River, and introduced a Restoration Priority Index to help target recovery efforts. The city is also organizing volunteer clean-up events, with sign-ups available through the Upper Guadalupe River Authority website.
• 2C – Kerr EDC and Kerr Together Update (Todd Bock, KEDC Executive Director) – Bock reviewed the long-term recovery working groups, noting more than 200 volunteers are involved. He highlighted active business recruitment projects, including a potential charter air service (Wingtips) being tested in Fredericksburg, and a possible collegiate baseball team partnership with Schreiner University. He also reported on business retention efforts, such as Project Save (a local health-wearable and software company) and Project Bobcat (bootmaker looking for space). He announced that KEDC will soon implement EDOiQ, a customer relationship management system to better track properties and prospects.

Key Outcomes

• The council discussed but did not vote on the exterior enhancement grant program; a formal resolution was expected to be considered during the regular meeting that evening (item 4C on the consent agenda).
• Staff committed to moving forward with the temporary Bear Creek bridge, with work possibly starting November 3, and will continue coordination with FEMA and TxDOT on the permanent bridge.
• The city will support volunteer riparian restoration events and plans to use volunteer hours as part of FEMA matching contributions.
• The council entered executive session under Section 551.074 to conduct the city attorney’s annual evaluation; no action was reported afterward.
• Council members expressed general support for expanding TIRZ grant programs in the future to include short-term rentals, sidewalks, and other improvements, and directed staff to explore those options.