Kerrville City Council Meeting – March 10, 2026

On March 10, 2026, the Kerrville City Council convened at City Hall for a regular meeting that featured presentations from state and local organizations, approvals of routine consent items, public hearings on two speed limit ordinances, a variance denial, and a discussion on staffing reductions in the legal department. The meeting also included proclamations for Red Cross Month and March for Meals, commendations for the Resiliency Committee, and an update on the Rock Island Generation Project from Kerrville Public Utility Board.

Presentations

• Tourism Texas Friendly Certification (2A): Nate Gearin, representing Travel Texas, presented a formal designation recognizing Kerrville as a Tourism-Friendly Texas Certified Community. He noted the resilience of the community following the July 4th floods and praised the efforts of the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

• Proclamation – American Red Cross Month (2B): Mayor Joe Herring read a proclamation declaring March 2026 as American Red Cross Month. The retiring Hill Country Chapter director was recognized for her service, particularly during the flood response.

• Proclamation – March for Meals (2C): A proclamation declared March 2026 as "March for Meals" month to highlight the work of the Dietert Center Meals on Wheels program. The program served over 71,000 nutritious meals annually, with 24,066 volunteer hours. During the flood response, the program missed only one day of delivery.

• Resiliency Committee Commendations (2D): Council presented certificates to members of the Resiliency Committee (Judy Eitner, Crystal Smith, Taddy Pratt, Louis Anistoi). Each member shared insights gained, including the challenges of balancing revenue and expenses.

• Hill Country Crisis Council (2E): CEO Brent Ives provided a summary of services covering children's advocacy, family violence, and rape crisis programs. He reported 2025 statistics for Kerr County: 76 forensic interviews, 64 children receiving mental health services, 161 families receiving advocacy, 210 adults and 33 children receiving mental health services, 49 shelter residents, and 3,542 nights of safe shelter.

• Dietert Center (2F): Executive Director Brenda Thompson outlined services including medical equipment lending (2,300 pieces loaned), 310 personal alert link units in service, dementia care programs, and 71,000 home-delivered meals plus 21,000 Friendship Cafe meals. She described the recovery from the flood, noting that the center reopened four months to the day after closing. The paint color used was "River's Edge."

• KPUB Generation Plant Project Update (2G): General Manager Mike Wittler presented the status of the Rock Island Generation Project, a 50-acre site near Columbus, Texas. The project is financed with $70 million in tax-exempt bonds and a Texas Energy Fund loan (first in the state). Commercial operations date is now expected August 1, 2027 (a two-month slide). Tariffs could add $8–$28 million in costs. Clearing has begun, and a groundbreaking is scheduled for April 17, 2026. Wittler analogized the project to owning versus renting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Susan Parrish (Endeavors): Ms. Parrish introduced Endeavors, a nonprofit that opened an office at 1401 Sidney Baker, offering free mental health counseling, case management, a relaxation room, and disaster case management for flood recovery. She invited first responders to use the services and announced a community event on March 28 at Louise Hayes Park.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of City Council workshop minutes and meeting minutes from February 24, 2026 (Items 4A and 4B) were approved by unanimous consent.

Public Hearings & Ordinances

• Ordinance 2026-04 – Olympic Drive Speed Limit (5A): First reading of an ordinance establishing a 20 mph school zone limit on Olympic Drive near Tom Daniels Elementary and the new middle school, adopted unanimously. An amendment to correct distances will appear at second reading.

• Ordinance 2026-05 – Goat Creek Parkway Speed Limit (5B): First reading of an ordinance lowering the speed limit from 45 mph to 35 mph on FM 1388 (Goat Creek Parkway) from Highway 27 to Lois Street, based on a TxDOT study. A typographical error in the ordinance number was noted but will not require amendment. Passed unanimously.

• Resolution 15-2026 – Cigar Club Variance (6A): A request for a distance variance for a cigar club and lounge at 512 Yorktown Boulevard within 300 feet of school property (Tyvee Stadium). The applicant, Gabriel Ballis, stated he was in due diligence. The school district submitted a letter opposing the variance. Council members expressed support for the business concept but denied the variance due to the location and lack of school district support. The motion to deny passed unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Birkdale Lift Station Pump #4 Replacement (7A): Assistant Director Chris Clark requested approval to purchase a replacement pump from vendor Xylem Water Solutions USA at a cost not to exceed $190,790, funded from the asset replacement fund. The pump was 12 years old with significant damage. Approved unanimously.

• Assistant City Attorney Position (7B): Councilmembers Kent McKinney and Delayne Sigerman proposed eliminating the unfilled Assistant City Attorney position, citing budget constraints and the opportunity to restructure the legal department after the departure of the previous city attorney. Some council members requested a cost analysis before deciding. The motion to eliminate the position passed 3-2.

Executive Session & Board Appointment

• Council convened an executive session under Texas Government Code §551.074 to discuss candidates for Kerrville Public Utility Board of Trustees position #3. After returning to open session, a motion was made and passed 5-0 to table the selection to a later meeting.

Items for Future Agendas

• Mayor Joe Herring requested that an update on the Louise Hayes Park planning process be placed on a future agenda, citing resident inquiries.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent agenda items.
• Passed first readings of speed limit ordinances for Olympic Drive and Goat Creek Parkway (unanimous).
• Denied variance for cigar club near school (unanimous).
• Authorized purchase of lift station pump (unanimous).
• Eliminated Assistant City Attorney position (3-2 vote).
• Tabled appointment of KPUB trustee (5-0).
• Future agenda item: Louise Hayes Park update.