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Record of Proceedings

City Council Emergency-Called Meeting - July 22, 2026: Extension of Flood Disaster Declaration

City Council & associated boards — Wednesday, July 22, 2026
BodyKerrville, Texas
SessionCity Council & associated boards
DateWednesday, July 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 30:37

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Unassigned speaker

0:02

I'm

Speaker 1

0:02

gonna go ahead and call to order this emergency call to meeting for July 22nd, 2026.

0:11

Let's go ahead and rise for the invocation and pledge of allegiance.

0:18

Lord, thank you for letting us live in a beautiful place.

0:21

Thank you for protecting us through many, many things.

0:27

And be with the Stewart family as they mourn the loss

Unassigned speaker

0:32

of

Speaker 1

0:33

a husband and a father.

0:38

Thank you for this community that comes together when there's a crisis.

0:43

And thank you for the hard working folks on the staff of the city of Kerrville

Unassigned speaker

0:51

who

Speaker 1

0:51

answered the call

Unassigned speaker

0:53

to

Speaker 1

0:54

go help right away.

Unassigned speaker

0:56

Jesus'

Speaker 1

0:56

name we pray.

0:57

Amen.

Speaker 2

0:59

Pledge of America and through the Republic or with States.

1:07

One nation.

1:08

Under God.

Speaker 1

1:17

Before we begin,

Unassigned speaker

1:20

I

Speaker 1

1:20

need to say a few things.

1:22

Thank you for being

Unassigned speaker

1:23

here.

Speaker 1

1:25

This council and I value the opinions and perspective of people of Kerrville, and we appreciate your taking the time to be

Unassigned speaker

1:32

here.

Speaker 1

1:34

Before we begin, I want to acknowledge what our community is going through.

1:38

The pain from last week's flood is real.

1:41

Many of us know someone who lost a home, a business

Unassigned speaker

1:45

of

Speaker 1

1:45

precious belongings.

1:47

Some are grieving the loss of a loved

Unassigned speaker

1:50

one.

Speaker 1

1:51

Others are facing uncertainty over what comes next.

1:54

Having endured two historic floods in just over a year, our community is carrying a tremendous burden.

2:03

We are members of the community as

Unassigned speaker

2:04

well.

Speaker 1

2:05

We share that burden.

2:07

We hear your concerns, we see the damage.

2:10

And we are doing everything we can, and staff is doing everything they can

Unassigned speaker

2:16

to

Speaker 1

2:16

bring every available state and federal resource to Kerrville so our community can recover.

Unassigned speaker

2:22

I

Speaker 1

2:23

know many of you have your own stories of loss, frustration, and hardship.

2:30

Those stories matter.

Unassigned speaker

2:34

And

Speaker 1

2:34

as a community, we will hear need to hear them as we move forward and heal together.

2:40

This meeting is unusual in that it's a special called meeting for one purpose.

Unassigned speaker

2:46

And

Speaker 1

2:46

that's what they're to extend the emergency declaration I signed in the early morning hours of July 16th.

2:59

Under Texas law, under the Open Meetings Act.

3:04

Council can only discuss items that were posted on today's agenda.

3:09

Today's agenda does not include a visitors' forum.

3:14

However, because this is an important community meeting, I want to hear from anyone who wants to speak.

3:24

Typically, you would be required to speak only on the agenda item.

Unassigned speaker

3:30

And

Speaker 1

3:30

if you're you would like to speak on it, say I support extending it for this reason, or I don't support extending it for this reason.

Unassigned speaker

3:39

But

Speaker 1

3:39

if you have another reason why you came today, I'm gonna go ahead.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Flood Recovery█████████████████████████████████████████████76%
Procedural██████10%
Community Engagement█████8%
Economic Development████6%
Summary of Proceedings

City Council Emergency-Called Meeting - July 22, 2026

The Kerrville City Council held an emergency-called meeting at 3:00 PM on July 22, 2026, at City Hall, 701 Main Street. The sole purpose was to consider and vote on Resolution No. 31-2026, extending the Mayor's Disaster Declaration regarding the July 16, 2026 flood event. Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. opened with an invocation and pledge, acknowledging the community's pain from the flood, which occurred just over a year after a prior historic flood. The meeting lasted approximately 30 minutes, concluding at 3:30 PM.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Elizabeth Ayala (Austin, TX; speaking on behalf of her parents Alfredo and Brenda of 107 Monterey Street, Kerrville): Described her family's home flooding with four feet of water, difficulty evacuating her deaf aunt, and the loss of belongings. She requested the city visit the affected area, activate FEMA individual assistance, demand state/federal long-term recovery support, arrange debris pickup due to health risks, and provide answers on rebuildability and housing. She urged a response by end of day July 23.
  • Adrian Gonzalez (San Antonio, TX; representing LiFund, a nonprofit small business lender): Reported that LiFund had deployed nearly $16 million to Kerr County businesses in the past year, but some was lost in the flood. He announced a quick grant program (opened Monday morning) with half a million dollars repurposed from James Avery Corporation, but needed additional funding support as other resources have not materialized. He requested assistance and pledged to exhaust existing funds.
  • Kelly Hagemeyer (Kerrville, TX; Program Manager, Kerr Together): Expressed full support for extending the disaster declaration. Stated Kerr Together, the official long-term recovery organization at 98 Coronado, has processed over 700 cases in the ISTAT system, had nearly 300 individuals visit, and over 300 volunteers. Noted volunteer organizations (VOADs) need additional funding due to strained resources across Texas. Provided shelter info (Calvary Temple Church) and transportation (Kerr Connect, First United Methodist for wheelchair riders). Encouraged residents to visit KerrTogether.com or call 830-315-1002.
  • San Cire (Houston, TX; speaking for friend Lauren, a teacher at Nemitz Elementary, and neighbors Jen, Bob, Amy, and Kylie): Described Lauren's evacuation from Lowry Street (Town Creek) and emotional devastation from a second flood within a year. Noted that Lauren and others still lack safe shelter. Requested immediate help and supported the declaration extension. Mayor acknowledged the difficulty and directed to Kerr Together.
  • Ray Cardine (Kerrville, TX; Executive Director, Doyle Community Center): Supported extending the disaster declaration and advocated for residents impacted by Town Creek flooding in the Doyle district and nearby streets (North Lewis, Barnett, Lowry, Guadalupe). Reported that many areas flooded for the first time. Described efforts to connect neighbors with Kerr Together and other resources. Requested debris cleanup assistance and next steps.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution No. 31-2026: Presented by City Attorney W. Tatsch. The resolution extends the Mayor's Disaster Declaration (signed July 16, 2026) indefinitely until the Mayor terminates it. Key provisions: (1) continuing the declaration, (2) satisfying statutory notice and filing requirements, (3) continuing the city's emergency management plan, (4) authorizing the City Manager to apply for assistance, accept services/grants/materials from governmental and private sources, accept aid from other local governments, enter interlocal agreements, and suspend disconnection fees/penalties related to rebuilding or debris removal. The resolution takes effect upon council approval.
  • Mayor Herring noted that the prior declaration from July 2025 remains in effect and has not been rescinded. He clarified that council approval is required because state law limits a mayor's unilateral declaration to seven days to prevent abuse.

Key Outcomes

  • Vote: The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 31-2026 (motion by a council member, seconded by Kent McKinney). The disaster declaration is now extended indefinitely until the Mayor determines it is no longer needed.
  • The meeting adjourned at 3:30 PM without entering executive session.
  • Mayor Herring committed to visiting 107 Monterey Street and connecting affected residents with Kerr Together and other resources.

Meeting Transcript

I'm gonna go ahead and call to order this emergency call to meeting for July 22nd, 2026. Let's go ahead and rise for the invocation and pledge of allegiance. Lord, thank you for letting us live in a beautiful place. Thank you for protecting us through many, many things. And be with the Stewart family as they mourn the loss of a husband and a father. Thank you for this community that comes together when there's a crisis. And thank you for the hard working folks on the staff of the city of Kerrville who answered the call to go help right away. Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Pledge of America and through the Republic or with States. One nation. Under God. Before we begin, I need to say a few things. Thank you for being here. This council and I value the opinions and perspective of people of Kerrville, and we appreciate your taking the time to be here. Before we begin, I want to acknowledge what our community is going through. The pain from last week's flood is real. Many of us know someone who lost a home, a business of precious belongings. Some are grieving the loss of a loved one. Others are facing uncertainty over what comes next. Having endured two historic floods in just over a year, our community is carrying a tremendous burden. We are members of the community as well. We share that burden. We hear your concerns, we see the damage. And we are doing everything we can, and staff is doing everything they can to bring every available state and federal resource to Kerrville so our community can recover. I know many of you have your own stories of loss, frustration, and hardship. Those stories matter. And as a community, we will hear need to hear them as we move forward and heal together. This meeting is unusual in that it's a special called meeting for one purpose. And

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