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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

New Braunfels City Council Meeting - May 11, 2026

City Council & Boards — Monday, May 11, 2026

BodyNew Braunfels, Texas

SessionCity Council & Boards

DateMonday, May 11, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:51:49

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:01

Good evening.

0:07

Good evening.

0:10

If everybody wants to find a seat, we'll go ahead and get started a little tardy on our regularly scheduled meeting.

0:22

Okay, we're gonna call this Monday, May 11th, 2026, regular city council meeting to order.

0:29

Mrs.

0:29

Wilkinson, will you please call roll?

Speaker 2

0:33

Councilmember Carter.

0:35

Here, Councilmember Capizi.

Speaker 3

0:37

Here.

Speaker 2

0:38

Councilmember Edwards.

0:39

Here.

0:40

Mayor Pro Temp Sbradley.

0:42

Here.

0:42

Councilmember Lebowski.

0:44

Here.

0:44

Councilmember Ryan.

Speaker 1

0:46

Here.

Speaker 2

0:46

And Mayor Leonard.

Speaker 1

0:48

Here we have a quorum.

0:49

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

Speaker 3

1:01

Heavenly Father, we come before you tonight as a community that is seeking to find a unified path forward.

1:09

Help us to be an example as leaders, neighbors, and parents in how we speak, how we listen, and how we treat one another.

1:18

Give us wisdom, humility, and calm hearts,

Unassigned speaker

1:22

and

Speaker 3

1:22

help us bring back together as neighbors.

1:24

Help bring us back together as neighbors, as fellow citizens and as a community that cares deeply about this city and one another.

1:32

Lord, remind us that even disagreement, we are still one community.

1:38

We ask these things in your name.

1:40

Amen.

Unassigned speaker

1:55

Individual.

Speaker 3

2:04

One state, under God, one and indivisible.

Speaker 1

2:37

Okay, we get to celebrate historic preservation month.

2:41

If you're here for historic preservation month, please come on down.

2:49

Thank you for your willingness to stick around so long.

3:14

So whereas the National Trust for Historic Preservation established the month of May as historic preservation month in 1973 to promote historic places for the purpose of instilling community pride, promoting heritage, tourism, and showcasing social and economic benefits of historical preservation.

3:35

And whereas historic preservation is relevant for communities across the nation, both urban and rural, and for Americans of all ages, all walks of life, and all ethnic backgrounds.

3:47

And whereas local historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth and sustainable development, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride, and maintaining community character while enhancing livability.

Unassigned speaker

4:01

And

Speaker 1

4:01

whereas the City of New Bromfels recognizes and gives thanks to our dedicated historic property and business owners, local preservation groups and organizations, and everyone who continuously champions historic preservation in our community.

4:16

Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Neil Leonards, Mayor of the City of New Bromfels, Texas, hereby proclaim May 2026 as historic preservation month.

Speaker 4

4:28

Who am I who am I presenting

Speaker 5

4:30

to

Speaker 1

4:33

say a few words?

Speaker 5

4:36

I'll keep it short and sweet since it's 8:30.

4:40

Um yes, May is preservation month, and I want to thank all of my friends up here who are advocates, those that couldn't be here.

Unassigned speaker

4:47

Uh

Speaker 5

4:47

we have some really great events happening um this month.

4:50

Actually, this weekend, Friday and Saturday, several museums are offering free admission.

4:55

And the McKenna's actually open on Wednesday from four to seven p.m.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

And we have our music at the mural on Saturday, May 23rd from 9 to 11 a.m.

Speaker 5

5:04

in our downtown area.

5:05

We'll be at three different murals.

5:07

Just come on down, there'll be directions on where to go.

5:10

And if you go to our website, um that'll be a full calendar.

5:12

So new Bronfels.gov/slash historic.

5:15

Thank

Unassigned speaker

5:15

you.

Speaker 6

5:16

Anyone

Unassigned speaker

5:16

else?

Speaker 1

5:19

Thanks, Katie.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Charter Review█████████████████████████25%

Procedural████████████████16%

Public Engagement███████████████15%

Zoning Regulations█████████9%

Downtown Development███████7%

Miscellaneous█████5%

Historic Preservation████4%

Affordable Housing████4%

Personnel Matters██2%

Summary of Proceedings

New Braunfels City Council Meeting - May 11, 2026

On Monday, May 11, 2026, the New Braunfels City Council met at 6:00 PM (started at 8:24 PM) in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered election canvassing, runoff ordering, major rezoning proposals, and multiple utility financing items. The meeting adjourned at 11:15 PM.

Proclamations & Presentations

Mayor Linnartz proclaimed May 2026 as Historic Preservation Month. Katie Totman and Historic Landmark Commission members accepted.
Jeff Jewell presented recognition of New Braunfels National Airport as the 2026 National/Regional Airport of the Year by the Texas Aviation Advisory Committee.

Public Comments & Testimony

Citizen Communications: Speakers addressed election confusion (Julie King, Randy Hensen, Esther Sandoval, Angela Allen, Steven Hogue, Katie Nelson, Stacey Clifford, Cheryl Fuller) on topics including trust in government, housing authority issues, library books, police response, and building inspections.
Item 2A (Election Canvass): Speakers voiced support for runoff (Kristen Carten, Penny Pereboom, Destin Singleton) and urged Mayor Linnartz to concede (Richard Kelsheimer, Shane Slattery, Larry Lane). Cheryl Fuller and Angela Allen raised questions about election process transparency.
Item 2B (Runoff Order): David Warmke urged Mayor Linnartz to step down for the good of the community.
Item 2C (Dittlinger Mill Rezoning): Julie King requested deferral, citing lack of site plan and concerns about height (up to 120 feet) and traffic (12,500 trips/day). David Warmke also opposed, citing LLC transparency issues. Johnathan Allorta supported the project as a needed downtown expansion.
Item 2D (Alves Lane Rezoning): No public testimony.

Discussion Items

Item 2A – Election Canvass: City Secretary Gayle Wilkinson read results: Mayoral race – Michael French 49.10% (3,680 votes), Neal Linnartz 38.24% (2,866), No majority; District 5 – Mary Ann Labowski won with 50.65%; District 6 – Nikki Shaw 45.26%, April Ryan 32.95%, No majority. Charles Zech presented legal history of Article 11, Section 11 of Texas Constitution, confirming charter conflict. City Manager Rob Camareno apologized for oversight and committed to independent review. Council debated but ultimately approved canvass 6-1 with Councilmember Carter opposed.
Item 2B – Runoff Election: Ordinance ordering June 13, 2026 runoff for mayor (French vs. Linnartz) and District 6 (Shaw vs. Ryan) passed 6-1 with Carter opposed. Councilmember Carter requested federal Voting Rights Act review.
Item 2C – Dittlinger Mill Rezoning: Jordan Matney and applicant Ashley Ferr mond presented 2.112-acres rezoning from C-/M-1 to MU-B SUP. Mayor Linnartz recused due to property interest. Council approved 5-1-1: Carter oppsed, Linnartz abstaind. Conditions include height stepbacks near residential.
** Item 2D – Alves Lane Rezoning:** Mathew Simmot presented 1.5-acre rezone to C-1A AH for an assisted living facility. Applicant John Holler spoke in favor. Council approved 5-2: Carter and Labowski oppsed.
** Itm 2E – Downtown Parking Plan:** Postponed to May 18 special meeting by unanmous vote.
** Items 2F-J (NBU Financing):** Jassica Wiiams presented six utility financig items (Revenue Bonds, Taxable Bonds for Lead Service Line Replacement, $510,000 Principal Fgiveness, $125M Commercial Paper, Water Supply Grant Application). All passed unaniously.

Key Outcomes

Election Canvass (6-1): Approved. Council will initiate charter review.
Runoff Order (6-1): Approved for June 13, 2026.
Dittlinger Mill Rezoning (5-1-1): Approved.
Alves Lane Rezoning (5-2): Approved.
Downtown Parking Plan: Postponed to May 18, 2026.
All NBU Financing Items (voted, all unanimous): Approved.
Executive Session: Held at 5:00 PM on litigation and city attorney matters; no action taken in open session.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Good evening. If everybody wants to find a seat, we'll go ahead and get started a little tardy on our regularly scheduled meeting. Okay, we're gonna call this Monday, May 11th, 2026, regular city council meeting to order. Mrs. Wilkinson, will you please call roll? Councilmember Carter. Here, Councilmember Capizi. Here. Councilmember Edwards. Here. Mayor Pro Temp Sbradley. Here. Councilmember Lebowski. Here. Councilmember Ryan. Here. And Mayor Leonard. Here we have a quorum. And Councilmember Capizi is going to lead us in the invocation, followed by the pledges. Heavenly Father, we come before you tonight as a community that is seeking to find a unified path forward. Help us to be an example as leaders, neighbors, and parents in how we speak, how we listen, and how we treat one another. Give us wisdom, humility, and calm hearts, and help us bring back together as neighbors. Help bring us back together as neighbors, as fellow citizens and as a community that cares deeply about this city and one another. Lord, remind us that even disagreement, we are still one community. We ask these things in your name. Amen. Individual. One state, under God, one and indivisible. Okay, we get to celebrate historic preservation month. If you're here for historic preservation month, please come on down. Thank you for your willingness to stick around so long. So whereas the National Trust for Historic Preservation established the month of May as historic preservation month in 1973 to promote historic places for the purpose of instilling community pride, promoting heritage, tourism, and showcasing social and economic benefits of historical preservation. And whereas historic preservation is relevant for communities across the nation, both urban and rural, and for Americans of all ages, all walks of life, and all ethnic backgrounds. And whereas local historic preservation is an effective tool for managing growth and sustainable development, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride, and maintaining community character while enhancing livability. And whereas the City of New Bromfels recognizes and gives thanks to our dedicated historic property and business owners, local preservation groups and organizations, and everyone who continuously champions historic preservation in our community. Now therefore, be it resolved that I, Neil Leonards, Mayor of the City of New Bromfels, Texas, hereby proclaim May 2026 as historic preservation month. Who am I who am I presenting to say a few words? I'll keep it short and sweet since it's 8:30. Um yes, May is preservation month, and I want to thank all of my friends up here who are advocates, those that couldn't be here. Uh we have some really great events happening um this month. Actually, this weekend, Friday and Saturday, several museums are offering free admission. And the McKenna's actually open on Wednesday from four to seven p.m. And we have our music at the mural on Saturday, May 23rd from 9 to 11 a.m.

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