The Bond Advisory Committee met throughout 2022 to narrow a list of proposed 2023 bond projects. On Oct. 17, the committee formed an official recommendation to the City Council, which was made up of 20 projects totaling over $183 million. The proposed projects were considered by the City Council before being narrowed down to around $140 million, the estimated capacity without a tax rate impact for a proposed May bond election.
After much discussion, council members voted to adopt Scenario 1, which includes the top eight ranked projects from the committee and funds roadway construction on Solms Road. Scenario 1 totals nearly $140.05 million with 71% of the 2023 bond funding to transportation, 20% to the Southeast Library Branch Project and 9% to the second phase of Mission Hill Park.
“City Council decided really on three propositions number one was transportation, and that's where majority of the bond would go to transportation,” said Gary Ford, transportation and capital improvements director for the city of New Braunfels. “The second is supporting a library branch on the southeast part of town and then finally supporting the full costs of Mission Hill Park.”
Common Street construction, citywide street and intersection improvements, and Conrads Lane road work are among the transportation projects to be funded with the bond. The Southeast Library Branch project will total nearly $29 million, and with six schools within walking distance, it is planned to have a strong youth and family focus.
The second phase of Mission Hill Park will also be a proposition for voters to approve on the May ballot. The park, located off of Hwy. 46 and Loop 337 on Independence Drive, will feature observation towers and natural surface trails, an exterior deck, an elevated boardwalk and educational exhibits. The estimated cost for the project is just over $12 million.
The New Braunfels Economic Development Corp. will fund the next phase and lower the construction cost of improvements the organization has identified as priority projects. Drainage improvements to Castell Avenue, Kohlenberg Road construction from I-35 to FM 1101 and the first phase of downtown right of way enhancements are among the projects prioritized by the NBEDC.
“In Scenario 1 with the EDC has really identified some projects for them to fully fund or to fund the next step that way that amount wasn't accounted for in the overall scenarios,” Ford said. “But one thing too is they indicated support to fund a final design for Kohlenberg Road, which is a big transportation project, which overall reduced the cost of the Kohlenberg Road project.”
Council members also voted to cancel the Jan. 18 workshop. The council anticipates to call for the May bond election by the Feb. 13 meeting to meet the February 17 filing deadline set by the Texas secretary of state.
“I think it's extremely important that we can't forget how many people have taken time to work on this,” New Braunfels Mayor Rusty Brockman said. “All [council members] have taken time to talk to a lot of people and get yourselves involved. The staff has presented us with information which is all important. And so I think I'm satisfied with scenario one.”
