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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

New Braunfels City Council Regular Meeting – February 23, 2026

City Council & Boards — Monday, February 23, 2026

BodyNew Braunfels, Texas

SessionCity Council & Boards

DateMonday, February 23, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:41:49

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

0:03

Good evening.

0:04

If everybody would take a seat, we'll go ahead and get the meeting started.

0:12

Okay, we're gonna call this Monday, February 23rd, 2026 City Council meeting to order.

0:18

Mrs.

0:19

Wilkinson, will you please call roll?

Speaker 2

0:21

Councilmember Carter.

0:22

Here, Councilmember Capizi.

Speaker 1

0:24

Here.

Speaker 2

0:25

Councilmember Edwards.

0:26

Here.

0:26

Council Members, our Mayor Pro Tim Sproadley?

Speaker 1

0:29

Here.

Speaker 2

0:29

Councilmember Lebowski?

0:31

Here.

0:31

Councilmember Ryan?

0:32

Here.

0:33

And Mayor Leonards.

Speaker 1

0:34

Here.

0:34

We have a quorum.

0:36

Councilmember Capesi is going to lead us in the invocation, followed by the pledges.

Speaker 3

0:47

Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege to serve this city and the people who call it home.

Unassigned speaker

0:54

As

Speaker 3

0:54

we gather to do the work before us tonight, your word reminds us to love one another as you have loved us.

1:02

And to be patient, kind, and not easily angered.

1:07

Help us to live that out

Unassigned speaker

1:08

here.

Speaker 3

1:10

Make us steady in our convictions, but respectful in disagreement and wise in our decisions.

Unassigned speaker

1:21

And

Speaker 3

1:21

in your name we pray.

1:23

Amen.

Speaker 1

1:24

Amen.

Speaker 2

1:36

One nation under God,

Speaker 4

1:39

indivisible with liberty

Speaker 2

1:41

and justice for all.

Speaker 1

1:43

Honor the

Speaker 4

1:44

Texas flag.

1:45

I pledge allegiance to the Texas.

Speaker 2

1:48

One state under God, one and indivisible.

Speaker 1

2:30

Okay, we get to start the meeting out with a little fun.

2:33

We're going to do some proclamations.

2:35

So our first one up, if Brooklyn and her family would come on

Unassigned speaker

2:41

up.

Speaker 1

2:55

As we uh we wind down a couple weeks of uh celebrating local heroes at the Olympics, we also get to recognize a local hero, a young local hero here in New Bromfels.

3:08

So whereas the City New Bromfels is honored to recognize Brooklyn Hudson, Houston for her amazing actions while faced with a tragic event, and whereas on November 19th, 2025, an MBISD school bus carrying 70 students on board, ranging from third grade to fifth grade, was involved in a serious crash.

3:30

And whereas an officer with the New Bromfels Police Department witnessed Brooklyn, Houston calming and assisting classmates who are crying and shook up, and whereas Brooklyn, who is a fourth grader, displayed actions like a trained adult, first responder would, as noted by an officer with the New Bronfels Police Department.

3:51

She was calm, displayed courage, kindness, and a caring heart while she assisted others in distress.

3:58

And whereas Brooklyn's parents describe her as a bold, loving, as bold, loving, and one who fights for justice, she is the youngest of three girls and always willing to help and give where whenever she can, whether to animals or humans.

4:13

She also loves sparkly things, loves to color, bake, or create, and loves spending time with her family.

4:21

Brooklyn brings joy and leadership wherever she goes.

4:24

Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Neil Leonards, mayor of the city of New Bromfels, Texas, hereby honor Brooklyn's caring nature, kindness, and assistance to do to do hereby recognize Brooklyn Houston and encourage all citizens to recognize her actions and examples in time of need.

Unassigned speaker

5:06

How

Speaker 5

5:06

about we

Speaker 1

5:07

let's take a picture up here with the with the rest of city council.

5:13

Oh, the police chief wants to recognize you as well.

Tony Janowick · Speaker 6Inferred

5:24

So

Speaker 7

5:26

I I was so moved by listening to what Brooklyn did on that day, uh, that it was important for me and members of our team to be here to celebrate on her behalf.

5:38

And so oftentimes, as kids were told, uh, in the moment of crisis, look for people, uh, look for helpers.

5:44

There will be people that will be helping.

5:46

And Brooklyn did just

Unassigned speaker

5:48

that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Parking Revenue Reinvestment██████████████████████████████30%

Public Engagement██████████████14%

Procedural████████████12%

Zoning Regulations███████7%

Downtown Development███████7%

Community Engagement█████5%

Affordable Housing████4%

Water And Wastewater Management███3%

Child Welfare███3%

Summary of Proceedings

New Braunfels City Council Regular Meeting – February 23, 2026

The New Braunfels City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 6:01 p.m. The meeting included proclamations, citizen communications, approval of a consent agenda, public hearings on three rezoning requests, and a detailed presentation on the downtown managed parking program. The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

Proclamations

Brooklyn Houston: Mayor Linnartz read a proclamation recognizing fourth-grader Brooklyn Houston for her actions during a November 19, 2025 school bus crash, where she calmed and assisted fellow students. Police Chief Flores presented her with the Chief's Challenge Coin for 2026.
President George Washington Day: A proclamation declaring February 22, 2026 as President George Washington Day was accepted by Dr. Patrick Hollis, who addressed council in a replica Revolutionary War uniform.
Engineers Week: The Mayor proclaimed February 22–28, 2026 as Engineers Week. Engineers from the Transportation and Construction Services department accepted the proclamation and spoke.

Citizens Communications

Stanley Laskowski (President, Pecan Crossing Owners Association) presented a petition signed by over 200 residents requesting a dedicated left-turn lane at the eastbound intersection of County Line and 725 as part of the 725 expansion. He noted that the city's Roadway Impact Fee Advisory Committee could start a study in 90 days and that additional traffic concerns exist for undeveloped parcels.
Danae Delaney (Canyon Lake resident) asked the city to adopt a resolution supporting a petition to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to begin formal rulemaking to ban wastewater treatment plant discharges into the Canyon Lake watershed, similar to protections for Lake Travis. She provided comparative data on potential cumulative effluent loads.
Jim Holster (resident) updated on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), noting 4,224 cases in New Braunfels. He also requested information on the city's policy regarding cooperation with ICE, the status of litigation involving the New Braunfels Housing Authority, and transparency concerns about Economic Development Corporation (EDC) meetings.
Steve Ceh (resident) proposed that June be declared “Responsible Fatherhood Month,” citing statistics on fatherlessness and its community impacts, and requested a future council proclamation.

Consent Calendar

All items approved unanimously on a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Spradley, seconded by Councilmember Labowski. The consent agenda included:

Approval of minutes from February 2 and February 9, 2026 meetings.
Appointments: Will Henry to the Planning Commission (term ending 5-31-2028); James Tipton, Greg Latimer, and David Speicher to the Roadway Impact Fee Advisory Committee.
Contract renewals: Pristine Rivers, Brauntex Materials, Asphalt Inc, Langley & Banack, Crowe LLP.
Bylaws amendment for the Landa Park Golf Course Advisory Board.
Resolution: Accepting up to $420,000 in grant funding from The Recycling Partnership for a residential recycling education and outreach initiative.
Second-reading ordinances: Amending park operating hours (Sec. 86-3); adopting Youth Program Standards of Care for Parks and Recreation; amending Historic Preservation incentives (Sec. 66-57.1); restricting parking on Willowbrook (Sec. 126-346); amending Traffic Impact Analysis requirements (Sec. 118-46(y)); adopting new fees for Traffic Impact Analysis Services (Appendix D).

Public Hearings – Rezoning Items

A) Assisted Living Facility Special Use Permit – 695 Saengerhalle Road

Request: Rezone approx. 4 acres from APD AH to APD AH SUP to permit a 16-bed assisted living facility.
Applicant/Representatives: TJ Grossi (Schumann Consulting) and Ayo Phillips presented plans for a single-story home-like facility. Property owner Garry Miller spoke in support.
Public comment: One opposition letter received expressing concerns about the type of care.
Outcome: Motion by Councilmember Edwards, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Spradley, passed unanimously (7-0).

B) Light Industrial Rezoning – 190 Old Engel Road

Request: Rezone 0.73 acres from APD to M-1A to accommodate a welding shop transitioning to light assembly and warehousing.
Zoning notice: 7 notices mailed, no responses.
Outcome: Motion by Councilmember Edwards, seconded by Councilmember Capizzi, passed unanimously (7-0).

C) Light Industrial Rezoning Near Airport – 1239 Barbarosa Road / 1255 Saur Lane

Request: Rezone approx. 4 acres from R-2 AH to M-1A AH.
Context: Property borders the airport; only 4 acres lie within city limits. Councilmember Edwards recused.
Applicant: Colum Malcolmson stated no immediate use; rezoning would increase property versatility for retirement planning.
Public comment: One opposition letter cited concerns about increased commercial activity affecting existing residences.
Outcome: Motion by Councilmember Capizzi, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Spradley, passed 6-0 (Edwards recused).

Presentation: Downtown Parking Update

Presenters: Jeff Jewell (Economic & Community Development Director) and Tony Janowiec (CEO, Interstate Parking) provided a detailed update on the first five-and-a-half months of the managed on-street parking program.
System facts: 258 of 750 on-street spaces (34%) are managed; 1,000 free public spaces remain available.
Key metrics: Average turnover increased to over 7 (peak 8 on West San Antonio); 93% natural compliance; 78% of sessions are two hours or less; gross revenue $316,000, expenses $118,000, net revenue $154,370; 2.6% rise in downtown visits compared to 2024.
Policy discussion: Staff presented community feedback themes and potential modifications, including a resident parking pass, business validation programs, pay stations, and changes to the free-hour period. No firm recommendations were made.
Public comments: Dave and Christina Cinotto (owners of Bootleggers Pizza and Oyster Bar) advocated for a two-hour free resident pass and expressed frustration with private lot enforcement. Clarissa DeSanto (Downtown Association President) praised responsiveness, requested better communication, and highlighted walkability and lighting issues.
Council direction: Councilmembers emphasized the need for a full year of data before making structural changes. They directed staff to work with the Parking Revenue Advisory Committee to study and evaluate: 1) Implementation of a resident parking permit (potentially integrating with the existing river pass), including analysis of revenue and turnover impacts; 2) A business validation program allowing merchants to offer validated parking; 3) Consideration of a two-hour free parking period as part of a resident permit option.
No formal action was taken.

Key Outcomes

Consent agenda approved unanimously.
All three rezoning ordinances approved on first reading.
Council directed staff to study potential modifications to the downtown parking program through the Parking Revenue Advisory Committee and report back with recommendations.
No action was taken on citizen communications; matters were noted for future consideration.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. If everybody would take a seat, we'll go ahead and get the meeting started. Okay, we're gonna call this Monday, February 23rd, 2026 City Council meeting to order. Mrs. Wilkinson, will you please call roll? Councilmember Carter. Here, Councilmember Capizi. Here. Councilmember Edwards. Here. Council Members, our Mayor Pro Tim Sproadley? Here. Councilmember Lebowski? Here. Councilmember Ryan? Here. And Mayor Leonards. Here. We have a quorum. Councilmember Capesi is going to lead us in the invocation, followed by the pledges. Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege to serve this city and the people who call it home. As we gather to do the work before us tonight, your word reminds us to love one another as you have loved us. And to be patient, kind, and not easily angered. Help us to live that out here. Make us steady in our convictions, but respectful in disagreement and wise in our decisions. And in your name we pray. Amen. Amen. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas. One state under God, one and indivisible. Okay, we get to start the meeting out with a little fun. We're going to do some proclamations. So our first one up, if Brooklyn and her family would come on up. As we uh we wind down a couple weeks of uh celebrating local heroes at the Olympics, we also get to recognize a local hero, a young local hero here in New Bromfels. So whereas the City New Bromfels is honored to recognize Brooklyn Hudson, Houston for her amazing actions while faced with a tragic event, and whereas on November 19th, 2025, an MBISD school bus carrying 70 students on board, ranging from third grade to fifth grade, was involved in a serious crash. And whereas an officer with the New Bromfels Police Department witnessed Brooklyn, Houston calming and assisting classmates who are crying and shook up, and whereas Brooklyn, who is a fourth grader, displayed actions like a trained adult, first responder would, as noted by an officer with the New Bronfels Police Department. She was calm, displayed courage, kindness, and a caring heart while she assisted others in distress. And whereas Brooklyn's parents describe her as a bold, loving, as bold, loving, and one who fights for justice, she is the youngest of three girls and always willing to help and give where whenever she can, whether to animals or humans. She also loves sparkly things, loves to color, bake, or create, and loves spending time with her family. Brooklyn brings joy and leadership wherever she goes. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Neil Leonards, mayor of the city of New Bromfels, Texas, hereby honor Brooklyn's caring nature, kindness, and assistance to do to do hereby recognize Brooklyn Houston and encourage all citizens to recognize her actions and examples in time of need.

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