According to Human Resources director Christina Courson, the Chapter 26A Grievance Policy was adopted as part of Senate Bill 12, which provided several protections for parents and their rights. Among other changes, this included a 60-to-90 day filing window for grievances. The district has amended their policies for FNG — parent/student complaints — DGBA — employee complaints — and GF — public complaints — to adhere to this change. However, Courson noted that this extended timeline has raised several concerns for staff, as it delays the resolution of disputes, taxes administrative capacity and causes evidence to “become stale,” since video footage is lost after 30 days and memories fade. It also allows evidence to be submitted throughout the entire escalation process.   

“Right now, somebody could technically file a grievance on something that was a year ago. That’s passed the 60 [and] 90 days, but the new law requires us to still hear it. We can’t dismiss it based on untimeliness and we still have to address the substance of the concern. That creates an issue. If it was a year ago, the person [may] not even be employed here anymore and we definitely don't have clear memories of what happened at that time,” explained the director, adding that staff also does not have the capacity to complete what is required.

The district’s previous policy dictated that complaint forms must be filed within 15 days of the individual knowing of the complaint. Additionally, all evidence must be presented within the Level One conference, rather than throughout the duration of the investigation to other levels, which is allowed by Chapter 26A.

Following these state-mandated policies takes away local control, said Courson, which is the entire purpose of being a District of Innovation (DOI). DOIs were created in 2015, after the 84th Legislature passed House Bill 1842 to provide public school districts more local control on certain provisions of TEC and allowing the same flexibilities as charter schools.

The district and board is exercising its right as a DOI to file an amendment to its grievance policy to better fit its needs, said Courson. The exemption would apply to Chapter 26A, Section 26A.001 Grievance Policy; Section 26A.002 Timelines for Filing and Appeal; Section 26A.003 Posting of Procedures and Forms; Section 26A.004 Testimony Before State Board of Education; and Section 26.011 Grievances.

“The net effect is that 26A shifts us from a more efficient, timely resolution-oriented model, to a longer one that increases the administrative burden at a time when we’re all doing more with less,” she said at the Sept. 21 meeting. “So, this would be a return to [some of] the process[es] that the district used successfully, prior to Senate Bill 12.”

If approved, the amendment would provide an exemption and the district and the board could look at returning to a similar grievance policy held in the past. The Local Innovation Strategy & Plan, according to agenda documents, states that the district’s previous policy provides an opportunity for grievances to be solved through informal means. This, in turn, allows to sometimes bypass the grievance timelines, since the resolutions can be prompt, permitting for more transparency, responsiveness and engagement.

The future policy, if approved by the board at a later date, would still provide every core protection, she explained, as there would be notice, an opportunity to respond, a hearing, an appeal, a level three board hearing and a written decision. What primarily changes is the timeline structure, filing deadlines and whether evidence is capped at the first level, which is consistent with judicial practices, said Courson.

“The ask is to please approve this exemption from 26A and 26.011. Not because we don’t want to be accountable. We’ve always been accountable, but we want local control over our grievance policies,” concluded the director.

Trustee Courtney Runkle had a slew of questions that she prompted prior to the Sept. 21 meeting, including: How many grievances has the district had for the 26A requirements to create an issue; why do we believe the person whose decision is being challenged should be the person deciding whether that decision was appropriate; can counsel explain exactly what the district is exempting themselves from; and what protection does a parent lose by allowing them 30, 60 or 90 days to initiative a grievance.

“I had hoped I would have had these questions answered prior to tonight’s meeting, so that I could review them and feel a little bit better about this,” said Runkle. “I hear what you’re saying; Chapter 26A was put into place to expand parental rights, one of which I very much am in support of. I do recognize that this may put some strain on our staff, so I really want to understand all of these things before I make a decision.”

Courson noted that the trustees did not yet have to vote, as it wasn’t required until the Sept. 28 meeting, which would provide time to get the questions answered. She also added that the amendment emphasizes the district’s ability to address parent concerns in a timely manner, when the evidence still exists and those involved are still employed.

“In short, our amendment doesn’t take away parents’ rights; it holds all to a higher standard of response to make sure that we create a resolution in a timelier manner,” said Courson.

Suggesting considering more about the process was Geoff Seibel, who stated that this is an opportunity to look at what the state is trying to do with the law and how Hays CISD’s policy aligns or misaligns with it. He shared that the state policy seemed to be more vague, which could mean that the district may need to look at its policy and perhaps provide a less structured approach, as a parent may try to file a grievance, but be cut off by time.

In response, Courson stated that the “beautiful thing about policy is that we can always amend it.”

She also stated that the district is working on a more centralized system, which will enable the district to track grievances and analyze them.

At the Sept. 28 meeting, Hays Educators Association member Addison Keller took to the podium to speak in support of the local policy, though added that the timeline for a grievance should start only once the individual filing could have “reasonably known about the problem.”

Superintendent Eric Wright explained that an attorney asked the board to consider the DOI amendment, due to the implications of not having timely grievances and the potential lack of video evidence with the new state policy, sharing that, “They saw a lot of glaring issues with it.”

“I’m voting no on [the proposed] amendment 22, but I want you all to understand why. I understand the purpose behind the amendment. I understand the desire for local control and I understand the concern that the grievance process created by Chapter 26A can take longer than what Hays CISD previously used,” said Runkle.

Although the protections for families would still be in place with the amendment, she stated that her concern lies within the time limit. Currently, state legislation cites an up to 90-day window to file a grievance, while the district policy is 15 days, she said. The language also prevents new evidence being added to the complaint after the first level. She feels it’s important to allow information to be entered into record, if needed. Finally, Runkle shared that the board would not be expected to respond to grievances, as the level two administrative decision can be upheld.

“The response I received to my questions, or lack thereof, was that we are simply being asked to approve the DOI amendment, so our previous grievance policies can remain in place and that additional administrative procedures or potential policy edits can be discussed after the amendment passes. I respect that position, but I reach a different conclusion about the sequence. I don’t believe we should exempt ourselves from these protections first and then, decide later which protections we want to put back,” emphasized Runkle.

Trustee Esperanza Orosco stated that she will be voting in favor of the amendment, as she has both filed a class action grievance against a district and has represented multiple employees, she “understand[s] how the process works and our administration really has worked hard to make it a fair and equitable system.”

The amendment was approved 6-1, with Runkle dissenting.

Although the amendment is approved, there are still several steps to go through before the grievance policy is formally changed, said Courson. Despite this, she noted that staff is recommending returning to most of its former policy.

Following the meeting, Courson sent the amendment for approval to the Texas Education Agency, which has confirmed receipt. Next steps include creating a policy that deviates from the Senate Bill requirements, receiving approval and recommendation from Policy Pals — the subcommittee that reviews policy proposals — and bringing it back to the board for final approval.

The Hays CISD Board of Trustees held a special meeting Oct. 6 and will continue its regular schedule Oct. 19.

“Kyle’s never been able to stand still. We grow; we build; we argue a little and we build some more,” said Flores-Cale. “This year, we started talking about some difficult questions: Can we afford it? Do we need it? What will it cost us later? And most importantly, does it make Kyle better? Those questions have taken some conservations at city hall. They’ve changed some priorities and yes, they’ve made a few meetings a little longer, but what they’ve also helped us to do is to get a clear picture about where we’re going.”

The population in the city has nearly doubled, said Tobias, as it’s grown from 39,000 in 2016 to 71,000 in 2026. This is exactly why the city has aimed to focus on road improvements, especially following the passing of the 2022 Road Bond, he said.

These roads not only foster connectivity, but the economy, as every aspect of city infrastructure affects both small and large businesses. This is why the goal of city staff has been to improve the roads and drive plans not only for the residents, but also to boost the local economy, Tobias continued.

Roads like Bunton Creek, Center Street, Kohlers Crossing, Kyle Parkway, the Lehman Road extension, Marketplace Avenue and Old Stagecoach are integral to the city’s growth. If these roads are improved, investors can come in with retailers that can expand the quality of life within the city, he explained.

Langley, a road off of FM 150, also had a geotechnical survey completed in July, with a presentation slated for December about design construction.

However, Flores-Cale stated new developments cannot continue without the appropriate water infrastructure, which includes wells, tanks, hydrants, service connections and hundreds of miles of mainlines. Kyle currently has several water and wastewater projects ongoing that will provide the resources to support this infrastructure, though council and staff made sure to take a realistic approach, she said.

She then posed a question: What if residents didn’t have to leave the city limits to do their daily shopping or outings; what if they could stay within the city? The plan to make that a reality is several new developments within the city, one of which is Kyle Park.

Developed by NewQuest, the 101-acre development off of Bebee Road will include retailers, such as Boot Barn, Barnes & Noble, TJ Maxx, Homegoods, Burlington, Dick’s Sporting Goods and more. It will also bring more than 300 jobs, said Tobias.

“The goal throughout the Park is not simply just development. We want to create places where people can actually go and want to spend time,” said Flores-Cale. "These are developments that hopefully will enhance our city, so we no longer have to go to the surrounding areas, like San Marcos or South Austin, to do our shopping or to do our daily living.”

Other developments are also slated to come back to council for further direction.

Residents can’t contribute to the economy if they’re struggling, which is why it was important to try to create affordability, said the mayor, as the adopted tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year is 8.3% less than 2026’s tax rate. Additionally, there was no increase in water or wastewater rates.

Next, Tobias noted several upcoming projects coming to fruition: the Adell Hurst Senior Community Center, located at 1500 Dacy Lane, is expected to open in December; the all-wheels skatepark in downtown Kyle will open in the fall; and the city is making plans to invest $1.8 million into the Kyle Vista Park by Science Hall Elementary School and Chapa Middle School.

On the topic of parks, Tobias announced that Lucas Massie from the city of Austin will be joining Kyle as the new Parks and Recreation director in the fall. Massie has experience from handling events, such as Austin City Limits, and holds a master’s in sports and recreation management. Tobias shared that Massie will create new concept designs for more activities within the city.

“At the end of the day, roads, water and continued economic developments are our goal. Those priorities are connected. The roads will move people. The water supplies will allow homes and businesses to be built and the economic development is going to create opportunity for our residents. The work belongs to all of us because the future that we are building will be shared throughout all of Kyle,” concluded the mayor.

Zapata submitted her resignation to the city secretary Friday, Sept. 25, with an effective date of Oct. 3. However, she is still required to serve until a qualified candidate fills the vacancy. If she chooses not to, she will relinquish her salary. Similarly, if Zapata moves out of the city, she will no longer be qualified to serve and will not continue in her position.

City attorney Aimee Alcorn-Reed explained in her presentation that, according to state law, the city must hold an election to fill the seat no later than Jan. 31, 2027, on either the uniform election date, with adequate time to call for an election, or within 120 days of vacancy. The next available date is Dec. 12, said Alcorn-Reed, which is the uniform run-off election.

With an election held Dec. 12, the earliest date a candidate can be qualified is Dec. 23, though if there is a run-off, the qualification would not be until January.

Prior to the vote, council members Zapata and Lauralee Harris, as well as Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale spoke.

Zapata first addressed rumors that she accepted a job out of state, emphasizing that Kyle is her home.

“As a child, I experienced frequent injustice and decided very young that I would dedicate my life to fixing the systems that allowed people to be hurt or left behind. I shared my life around becoming the public servant I needed as a child,” she shared. “There was still so much more I wanted to do, which is why I refuse to describe my resignation simply as a choice … For the past 11 months, I have been the target of a sustained harassment and dehumanization campaign.”

The council member went on to quote threats and malicious messages she claims to have received during her time, adding that others on the dais have let the harassment continue.

“I leave Kyle City Council with grief, anger, tremendous disappointment, but also with pride in the positive work that we have done here together, despite the hate that we’ve faced. I am grateful to every resident who trusted me, who challenged me honestly, who worked beside me or reminded me that the ugliest voices were never the entirety of this community. My hope is that Kyle chooses to learn something from what has happened here,” she concluded to a round of applause.

Sharing her experience with bullying was Flores-Cale, who recalled a time she was at the end of a racist remark and an Urban Dictionary word that was attributed to her.

She noted that Zapata’s allegations should be taken seriously, but that claims need to be distinguished from facts.

“The city of Kyle is not a political referee. It should not decide which resident’s criticism is appropriate, which political opinion is acceptable or which side of a disagreement is right and the city should certainly not label a resident’s conduct criminal, without the facts and the appropriate legal process to support that conclusion … That is why council member [Courtney] Goza and I are asking that available information concerning these allegations be properly reviewed and that any relevant city records be preserved,” said the mayor.

The city and Kyle Police Department have been contacted, she continued, and asked whether any reports or records exist and whether there is information that should be reviewed by the appropriate law enforcement agency. From there, the authorities will determine the outcome. She noted that she will support the warranted result, but she will “not call criticism a crime and I will not call an allegation a proven fact and I will not dismiss a serious allegation simply because it has not yet been proven. We can do better than choosing between those extremes.”

Concluding her speech, Flores-Cale stated that this is how Zapata, the residents, council and the integrity of the city are protected.

“I am disgusted and deeply embarrassed by you doubling down on what you just stated,” said Zapata, adding that she never wanted to file criminal charges as she knows that “there is nothing criminal, per se, that has happened, but something doesn’t have to be criminal for it to be wrong.”

The final council member to speak was Harris, who acknowledged her background working at a domestic violence shelter. She shared a story of a victim returning to her apartment, sure that the man would not hurt her. The man arrived and shot her and the person helping her, killing them both.

“We cannot put up with the kind of treatment that has been exhibited in the community by a minority. Unfortunately, we need to look at ourselves closely and think about what encourages this behavior and support the women who are trying to escape it,” Harris stressed.

This cumbersome environment is the same reason she has chosen to not run for reelection, she said.

Although not always agreeing, Harris stated that she has always admired Zapata, noting that she always came with sound, researched arguments and presented them eloquently.

Harris then motioned to accept Zapata’s resignation, passing 7-0.

The next item was to call a special election Dec. 12 to fill Zapata’s District 3 vacancy.

“It is our recommendation to continue to put this election on this date because we already have the funding for it,” said Alcorn-Reed.

Locations for early and Election Day voting have not been finalized, but Kyle City Hall and the Hays County Elections Office will be used, along with others.

Voting dates and times are as follows for early voting:

• From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, to Friday, Dec. 4.

• From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

• From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, and Tuesday, Dec. 8

Election Day voting will be Saturday, Dec. 12.

The city of Kyle began taking applications Tuesday, Oct. 6. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, with a drawing for ballot order held Thursday, Nov. 5.

Council member Marc McKinney asked whether someone currently on the ballot can instead file for the District 3 seat.

“Our understanding is that if you are currently on the ballot, it is too late to remove your name from the ballot. So, you can announce that you are withdrawing. You could register to run for the other seat; however, if you win the seat you’re currently on the ballot for, that withdrawal is not effective and you can take [the original seat you applied for]. That makes this a little bit murky and confusing.

“Then, if you end up in the runoff as an applicant currently [running] for [the original] seat, but you’re also on the ballot for the special election, you can’t be on the ballot twice at the same election. It would be too late to withdraw from the special election and so, you would have to withdraw from the runoff.

“We’re looking into what happens if somebody who makes the runoff then withdraws from the runoff because that’s not something we’ve ever dealt with,” said Alcorn-Reed.

Council approved the special election unanimously.

The project will add a new academic building, focused on nursing and other high-demand health sciences programs. The expansion, part of ACC’s voter-approved 2022 general obligation bond package, is expected to accommodate more than 900 additional students.

The approximately $100 million project is intended to strengthen the pipeline of nurses, technicians, therapists, medical assistants and other health care workers needed throughout Hays County and Central Texas.

“Today is much more than a building,” said Nina Almasy, ACC associate vice chancellor for health care professions. “It is about opportunity. It is about a student being able to pursue a health care career close to home, earn a credential that leads to a family-sustaining wage and create greater economic mobility and prosperity for themselves and their families.”

Almasy said the expansion will provide students with access to health care training, without requiring them to travel outside the region.

“We are not simply adding space; we are expanding possibility,” she said.

ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart said the college has a responsibility to keep pace with the region’s rapid population growth and the workforce demands accompanying it.

“Central Texas is growing quickly and Hays County is at the heartbeat of that growth,” Lowery-Hart said. “ACC has a responsibility to keep up with that growth, to serve the community and prepare the students that are needed to make this community functional, working and growing.”

The new building will be anchored by ACC’s nursing program and is expected to include training in dental hygiene, surgical technology, radiologic technology, phlebotomy, emergency medical services, pharmacy technology, medical laboratory technology and sonography.

The project also includes a new central utility plant, parking, landscaping and other site improvements. ACC plans to seek at least LEED Silver certification for the building. The facility is expected to open for the fall 2028 semester.

ACC Board of Trustees chair Sean Hassan thanked taxpayers for approving the bond package and said the new building will help local residents prepare for careers available within their own communities.

Hassan shared the story of his mother, who worked long hours at laundromats and dry cleaners, while his family struggled financially. Their circumstances changed, he said, after she gained admission to a taxpayer-funded nursing program and began a career that provided financial security for the family.

“I am absolutely confident and so excited for the thousands of students who will come through these facilities because I am sure that this experience will be as transformative for them as the experience was for our family growing up,” Hassan said.

District 21 State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, described the groundbreaking as an investment in both students and the region’s future.

“As the population grows, so do health care needs,” Zaffirini said. “The students who will come here as we celebrate this groundbreaking will absolutely be prepared for a better future and to better care for their families.”

Zaffirini, a former community college student and instructor, said she would have a Texas flag flown over the state Capitol in honor of the new building and present it when the facility opens.

“The best part about groundbreakings is there’s a ribbon cutting to follow,” she said.

Hays County commissioner Michelle Cohen said the project represents the type of long-range planning needed as the county continues to grow.

“We must make sure that the institutions serving those people are keeping pace,” Cohen said. “That means thinking beyond what we need today and planning for what Hays County will need five, 10 and 20 years from now.”

Cohen said the region cannot expect its existing health care workforce to absorb continued population growth indefinitely.

“We must create opportunities for people in our own communities to receive the education and training necessary to enter these professions and we need those opportunities to be accessible close to home,” she said.

Hays County commissioner Walt Smith said community colleges offer opportunities to people who may not otherwise have immediate access to a four-year university. He also praised ACC for designing its facilities around the people who will use them and the communities they will serve.

“It’s not just a building; it’s the people who go through it,” Smith said. “It’s not just the classes we teach; it’s how you can improve the community.”

Dr. Tiffany Ricks, dean of ACC’s School of Nursing, said students need spaces where they can practice skills, work through real-world scenarios and collaborate across health care disciplines.

“Health care is hands-on, team-based, fast-moving and deeply human,” Ricks said.

Each additional student trained at the campus represents another professional who could eventually care for local patients, she said, whether as a nurse, dental hygienist, sonographer, radiologic technologist, surgical technologist or paramedic.

“These are more than careers,” Ricks said. “They are moments of care that touch lives, strengthen families and sustain our community.”

The Hays Campus expansion is one of several projects included in ACC’s 2022 bond program, which is funding new and expanded facilities throughout the college district.

KYLE — Kyle City Council member Claudia Zapata submitted her resignation to the city secretary Friday, Sept. 25. 

According to agenda documents for the Monday, Oct. 5, council meeting, Zapata’s resignation is effective Saturday, Oct. 3. However, council has the authority to formally accept the resignation, if desired. 

State law and city charter notes that the city must now hold an election to fill the District 3 seat prior to Jan. 31, 2027, read the documents. The election must be on the earliest uniform election date within 120 days and provide adequate time to call the election. 

The next uniform date is Saturday, Dec. 12.

The document also clarified that the council member shall continue in her role until the successor is qualified to serve, whether or not the resignation is accepted by council, which, at the earliest, would be Wednesday, Dec. 23. If the election were to require a runoff, the candidate would not be qualified until January. 

If Zapata chose to not attend the meetings after the date listed on her resignation, she would not receive her monthly salary and would be subject to other action by council, continued the document.

Council will approve or deny the resignation at its Oct. 5 meeting, as well as approve or deny an ordinance calling a special election for Dec. 12. If the ordinance is approved, applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at the Kyle Public Safety Center, located at 1700 Kohlers Crossing. 

“Growing up, I experienced injustice and dedicated my life to becoming the public servant I needed as a child. I cherish the responsibility I have been entrusted with, and this resignation comes with enormous grief," said Zapata in a social media post. “For nearly one year, I have endured sustained harassment and dehumanization that went far beyond criticism of my votes or leadership. In Facebook groups dedicated to Kyle politics, such as Kyle Council Citizen Oversight and Kyle Watchdog Uncensored, people have joked about my suicide, subjected me to racist, homophobic, sexist and fatphobic attacks and targeted me with degrading and sexualized [artificial intelligence]-generated images. These attacks did not stay online — they made their way into City Hall ... As much as I love Kyle, I cannot continue to absorb abuse in order to serve it."

She continued, stating that there is not a healthy democracy occurring in the city of Kyle and she is concerned about the ongoing hate and abuse, as residents have shared that they fear becoming the next target.

“I leave Kyle City Council with grief, anger, and disappointment, but also with pride in what we accomplished together despite the hate we faced. To those who loved me through it all — my family, T, D, P, C, S, A, J, and P — I am eternally grateful," said Zapata. “I care too much about this city to leave without asking us to think about who we want to be and what kind of community we are willing to create for those who come next.”

This is a developing story. The Hays Free Press will update it as more information becomes available.

This item follows council discussion at the July 30 meeting, which directed staff to return with comparisons of the two remaining paths for future animal services. This includes either option two, continuing the regional partnership with Hays County and the city of Buda or option three, developing a smaller, standalone structure for Kyle. Either facility will no longer be located on the Kyle Vista site, which was option one, after it was determined that the land was for park-use only.

Option two

• Partnership with Hays County and the city of Buda through an interlocal agreement (ILA)

• Approximately 31,000 square feet

• An estimated construction cost of $21.7 million, to be split with the county and Buda. Kyle would be responsible for $7.1 million and would likely be funded through certificate of obligation (CO) bonds

• Six or seven acres

• Would have 75% of Hays County’s intake

• Kyle would fully manage and operate the facility

• Cost an estimated $2 million to operate annually, with Kyle paying $1.32 million

Option three

• Purely for city of Kyle use

• Approximately 12,000 to 18,000 square feet

• An estimated construction cost of $6 to $9 million to likely to be funded through CO bonds

• Could possibly renovate or retrofit other facilities

• Four to five acres

• Three-times less intake than option two

• Cost approximately $1 to 1.5 million to operate annually

Assistant city manager Jesse Elizondo noted that originally, a fourth option to use third-party services, rather than operating a city-owned facility was removed, but he brought it back, due to the announcement that PAWS of Central Texas and Austin Pets Alive! have created a partnership together and may be looking to develop a shelter in Kyle in the future.

Sharri Boyett, part of the team that founded Prevent A Litter (PALS), noted that the partnership is not for animal control; it is purely to “resurrect PAWS Shelter.” Additionally, she stated that the partnership has a long way to go before making any headway.

He also noted that staff talked to the Hays County Commissioners Court and was told that if the ILA moves forward, they are still open to continuing, but that they are also looking at other options.

“Our next steps after this conversation and getting direction from council would be to bring back a resolution with that direction and then, include whatever element in the five year [capital improvement program] with design and then, construction, all laid out. The more nuanced elements of location and evaluations and programming and design would all come back to council as we move forward. This is just the first step,” said Elizondo.

Council member Courtney Goza began the discussion by noting that many community members that are heavily involved in animal care are requesting that council hold off on voting until after the election, due to the potential that new elected officials could lead to different outcomes. She stated that she agrees with the sentiment of waiting.

Agreeing with Goza were council members Lauralee Harris and Melisa Medina, who stated that the county has “flipped with this dilemma for the last few years, [with] things being started and then, stopped.” However, Harris did emphasize urgency after November and that she would like to keep the option of the partnerships open, as a relationship with the county is “critical.”

Council member Michael Tobias stated that he’s “glad everybody’s finally seeing that this basically comes down to politics in the end,” as he’s been asking for updates with the county and Buda for the past year, with no clear answer, adding that the animals are the ones suffering, currently, because of these politics.

He also brought up operating costs and how they could potentially increase in the future.

“I think there’s a lot of factors that played into this, so I think delaying for a little bit, while we collect some more information, is not going to hinder us tremendously,” said council member Marc McKinney.

In response to a question from McKinney, Brianna Gettys, animal control supervisor, stated that animals in the outside of the city’s service area are complicated, which is why there needs to be ILAs with all shelters in the area, so they can get transferred to the appropriate areas. She also shared that the county has direct liability, due to state law, for all livestock. So, they have a wrangler that picks up those animals and houses them until they can be returned.

Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale stated that because the San Marcos Regional Animal Shelter (SMRAS) extended the city’s contract for another year, instead of not renewing as planned, she wanted to have some movement with the project. So, as community members suggested, she mentioned a potential committee, but was concerned about wasting the resident’s time, if the county decided to build their own shelter.

Gettys stated that she met with a national organization for animal welfare, who suggested having an advisory board. So, it could be an animal advisory board, rather than a shelter advisory board.

“This is already in the works, but we could reach out to San Marcos, meet with them and talk to them about our next steps, where we’re going, what we’re looking at and maybe get some ideas from them, as far as [a board],” suggested Elizondo. “I think that the feedback we get from them, based on this next year that we have in the contract, would be really helpful for those next steps.”

Flores-Cale stated that she would like to see the beginnings of a board, at least.

Ultimately, Elizondo stated that they will meet with SMRAS to get feedback and look into a board, which should take council through the November election, before more direction is needed.

To listen to the full discussion, visit bit.ly/3VdEDAB.

Prior to adoption, Chief Financial Officer Deborah Ottmers presented the board with background information at its Sept. 21 meeting. She noted that the district budgeted for 25,400 students at 28 campuses, with 3,500 employees across the 221 mile area it covers.

In order to calculate the tax rate, the district has to wait until July for certified property tax values to be released from the Hays Central Appraisal District, she said.

“When we get those July certified values, we use those in the months of July through September to come to the point of adopting the tax rate. We do have to publish notices. We start the first one in June, when we’re about to adopt the budget, and if we have to we will have a second notice published in September. At this point, we did not have to do that because our tax rates are equal to or lower than our initial posting,” said Ottmers, adding that the initial proposed rate, prior to certified values, was the same as 2025 at $1.1546 per $100 valuation.

Despite the rate not changing, estimates in April assumed that an average homeowner with a value of $182,110, after the homestead reduction, would expect to pay $86 less than before, for a total of $2,103.

“We end up seeing now a different tax rate, now that we have more detailed information with the July [certified value] amounts,” Ottmers explained.

Because the home values actually increased, the district’s Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) calculated compressed maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate decreased from $0.6169 to $0.6023.

Based on these numbers, the new tax rate would be $1.1400, a $0.0546 decrease. This includes an M&O rate of $0.6523 — which includes $0.0500 of copper pennies, also known as enrichment funding — and an interest and sinking rate of $0.4877.

Now, an average homeowner with a value of $173,290 after homestead exemptions can expect to pay $1,976, for an estimated $210 savings from 2025 for the year.

“Because we are in that grey area, where we could potentially become a recapture district with excess local revenue and have to send money back to the state, they want to look at all of our information and agree that we’re in good shape and that we know what’s going on … and then, we have to wait for this letter to come back [from TEA] to approve for us to adopt the tax rate,” said Ottmers, adding that the letter was dated past their last meeting in August, so they had to wait, though TEA does not anticipate that the district will have to send money back.

“Thank you for you and your team for definitely doing all the work needed to make these things happen for our community. It’s so important. We’re all — most of us — are hurting financially right now, so every bit counts,” said trustee Esperanza Orosco.

The board of trustees approved the tax rate at $1.1400 unanimously at the Sept. 28 meeting.

Milam Raemsch, DPM, leads the Kyle location and is board-certified in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, according to a news release. He specializes in foot and ankle reconstruction, sports-related injuries and arthritis and treats a wide range of conditions, including foot and ankle pain, plantar fasciitis, ingrown toenails, calluses and bunions, sports injuries, fractures and ankle sprains, diabetic foot and wound care and more. 

“We know that foot and ankle problems don’t always happen at a convenient time,” said Raemsch. “Our goal with the Monday walk-in clinic is to give families in Kyle and the surrounding communities another convenient option to get the care they need and get back on their feet.”

The doctor emphasizes communication and transparency when developing treatment plans, the release continued, offering patients a comprehensive approach that may include conservative or surgical treatment options.

No appointment is necessary and the clinic welcomes both adult and pediatric patients, with most insurance plans accepted. The clinic is located at 1180 Seton Parkway, Suite 300, Kyle, TX 78640.

For more information about the walk-in clinic or other foot and ankle services, call 737-286-9009 or visit www.ATXFootCare.com.

Projects include improvements: along High Road; Hillside Terrace; Dairy Road; Bunton Lane; Heidenreich Lane; Gristmill Road; Goforth Road; FM 2001; and Windy Hill Road.

The open house will provide updates on roadway projects aimed at improving safety and mobility for residents, businesses and travelers in the rapidly growing east Kyle area, according to a news release.

The open house will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at Gemstone Palace, 1101 Bunton Creek Road, Suite 200, Kyle. Community members may attend at any time to review project information, ask questions and speak directly with the project team.

“As our community continues to grow, it’s important that our transportation infrastructure reflects that,” Precinct 1 commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe said. “Road improvements in east Kyle will enhance safety and mobility while preparing the area for continued growth.”

Meeting materials and opportunities to submit comments will also be available online at www.hayscoroads.com from Oct. 1 through Oct. 16.

“We want residents to have easy access to information about these projects and the opportunity to speak directly with the people working on them,” Precinct 2 commissioner Michelle Cohen said. “The open house gives residents an opportunity to learn more about these projects, ask questions and stay informed about upcoming improvements.”

For more information about the projects, contact the Road Improvements Program Engagement Team at 512-649-0601 or hello@hayscoroads.com.

The two organizations are working through a new initiative called Hays County Pets Alive!. PAWS will continue operating under its name at both locations, with administrative, medical and operational support from APA.

Suzie Chase, community affairs officer for APA, said leaders of the two organizations began discussing a merger earlier this summer, in hopes of sustaining PAWS’ decades of work in Hays County.

Reopening the Kyle shelter is a priority, Chase said. Facility evaluations are underway and the organizations expect the campus could reopen within approximately 60 days. Adoptions and foster support would return first, with services for foster animals, including spay and neuter surgeries and medical care, added later.

The Dripping Springs campus remains open. The organizations plan to increase surgery days, medical care and the number of animals adopted there, though Chase said details have yet to be finalized.

“No positions have been eliminated and there is no plan for layoffs,” Chase said. “Daily operations and staff roles remain the same for now, with additional workers to be hired as needed at both campuses.”

After the transition, current full-time PAWS employees who join APA will be eligible for its benefits, time-off policies and wage increases, Chase said. Part-time employees will move to their pay structure by Jan. 1, with access to eligible certification and career advancement opportunities.

Expansion will depend on local support, Chase said.

“This growth doesn’t happen automatically just because APA! is involved,” she said. “It relies directly on active fundraising and community generosity to build the necessary infrastructure and sustain operations in Hays County.”

The organization plans to open a thrift store in San Marcos to generate revenue. Chase said new donations designated for PAWS operations will be restricted to that purpose.

PAWS transferred in 191 animals from San Marcos in 2025 — 75 cats and 116 dogs — at its Kyle and Dripping Springs locations, Chase said. She did not provide a projected increase in transfers, adoptions or other services under the merger.

PAWS will continue to take in some animals from the San Marcos shelter, accept some owner surrenders and strays and assist rescue groups in surrounding counties. Chase emphasized that PAWS is a nonprofit, not an open-intake shelter.

“It does not replace the animal services that city and county governments are responsible for providing,” she said.

Two PAWS board members will be invited to join the APA board, while others will serve on an advisory committee. Chase said those board members will have a role in decisions about local services and spending.

The organizations say they intend to track how many animals enter their care and leave alive through adoption, reunification with owners or transfer to another rescue. Chase said they plan to share that data with the Hays County community on the Hays County Pets Alive! website at hayscountypetsalive.org.

Located at 395 County Road 202, Building 4, Kyle, the new location will provide food pantry services and connect local residents with resources, relationships and opportunities that support long-term stability and transformation, according to a press release.
 

For more than 90 years, The Community Mission has served individuals and families facing poverty, food insecurity and crisis. As community needs continue to grow, the organization is developing new Community Mission Hubs to bring support directly into neighborhoods where it is needed most. 
 

Unlike traditional models focused primarily on emergency assistance, Community Mission Hubs are built around the philosophy of “a hand up, not a handout.” The goal, the release stated, is not only to meet immediate needs, but also to help people build a stronger future through encouragement, accountability, education and community partnerships. 
 

“Our vision is to bring hope directly into neighborhoods that need it most,” said Chris King, executive director of The Community Mission. “Every Community Mission Hub will become a place where churches, businesses, volunteers and local organizations work together to help people move from crisis to stability. We believe lasting change happens when we invest in people, not just their immediate needs.” 
 

The Kyle location is currently focused on food pantry services for area residents. Pantry appointments are available by appointment only on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.
 

The Community Mission plans to expand services at the Kyle location in the new year as partnerships and community resources continue to grow. Potential Community Mission Hub services may include: 
• Food assistance paired with personal goal setting 
• Resource navigation and community referrals 
• Financial literacy and life-skills education 
• Employment and workforce connections 
• Family support and mentoring 
• Volunteer engagement opportunities 
• Church and community partnership initiatives 
 

Additionally, The Community Mission is also introducing its Virtual Pantry, which gives community members an online way to support specific food and household needs. Supporters can browse available pantry items, select what they would like to provide and help make essential resources available to Kyle and Buda families. 
Community members interested in supporting the Kyle location can do so by: hosting a food drive through a church, school, business, neighborhood or community group; donating food, household essentials or financial support; purchasing items through the Virtual Pantry; volunteering with The Community Mission; sharing pantry information with neighbors who may need assistance; or Helping build partnerships among churches, businesses, civic groups and local organizations 
 

The Community Mission will host two ribbon cuttings for the Kyle location. The Greater Buda Chamber of Commerce will be Tuesday, Sept. 29, while the Kyle Area Chamber of Commerce will be Oct. 1. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations and join either ribbon cutting. 
 

“Our communities don’t just need more programs,” King said. “They need places where relationships are built, dignity is restored and people are equipped to thrive. That’s what a Community Mission Hub is all about.” 

To schedule a pantry appointment, call 512-472-7592. 

The Virtual Pantry is available at https://communitycentermission.org/give.

For more information, visit www.bccmission.org or contact Tamie Danks at tamie.sanchez-danks@bccmission.org.

Steeplechase Park, located in east Kyle, serves hundreds of residents daily, but what many may not know is that it’s actually lost 70% of its canopy, explained Davis. This was determined after a control portion of the same watershed, climate and plant species, located between Philomena Drive and IH-35, actually grew its canopy by 20%. The difference, prompted Davis, is human interference. 

The manager went on to explain that he’s worked with parks departments across the state of Texas for 35 years and the standard is typically: mow it or don’t mow it. However, environmental care should never be this simple, stressed the pair.

The moment grass is mowed near a tree, the timeline of its life begins, said Davis. For example, if humans begin cutting around a tree, all of the seeds it's dropping are being mowed up, resulting in an interruption of the natural environment. Birds will not have seeds to pick up, fertilize and, ultimately, create a new tree. So, when the tree inevitably dies, there is not one sprouting next to it to replace it. This is what happened in Steeplechase Park. 
Changing this mindset of “mow or not mow” is what Davis and King were striving to bring to Kyle when the division began in 2024.

“Many of our parks were actually dying. That’s the Steeplechase analysis,” said Davis. “The parks were suffering ecologically. They weren’t healthy and so, there was a need to make that change.”

One of these changes was creating an integrated pest management (IPM) position to address problems on the landscape with the lowest toxicity methods. 

“A lot of times, you see in traditional Parks and Recreation departments people use the harshest chemical because they come [and] apply it once and they don’t have to come back. So, it’s efficient, but think about the fact that you’ve exposed the employees to a very harsh chemical [and] you’ve exposed the public to a very harsh chemical,” said King, adding that there are benefits to restoring order to the environment. “[If] you pick native plants, you realize the plants, the wildlife, the soil ecology [and] the microbes in there, they all mostly do the best they can to fight away pests and pathogens. Not saying you’ll never have to spray again, but you have to spray a lot less whenever you’re going with the native plant route and thinking with IPM.”

This idea is continued with Lake Kyle, as it is involved in a project partnership with the city of Kyle and Texas State University, due to its impaired water and high bacterial loads. The research will be using native plants to create floating wet beds. Native plants, said Davis, work with the local no-see-ums, or tiny biting insects, to break down pollutants and turn them into carbon and hydrogen local microbes in the soil the naturally fight away pests and pathogens. 

Cleaner water is one of many ways that the ecosystems pay back the city, said Davis. He noted that all cities are under permitting programs from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, requiring minimum standards of clean water. If these are not met, the city is charged, said Davis. So, by bringing back native plants, the pollutant load in the watersheds are lowered, resulting in less violations by the city. 

Furthermore, restoring these landscapes allows for 125% more water, due to native plants having extension root systems. As a result, more stormwater will be absorbed, meaning that the city has to spend less money on erosion control and deepening and widening of bridges because the water has a space to go, rather than flooding on top of the surface. 

These are some example of ecosystem services, which are when the processes of a healthy ecosystem result in actual cost savings via less human intervention.

King regularly works with a team to bring native plants throughout the city. He’s created a tiered system, from one to three, for different levels of natural landscapes. The first is extremely manicured, typically occurring in populated cityscapes, such as Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park, while tier two can be found off of trails and tier three is all natural. Throughout all tiers, King shared that the city is being thoughtful on its decisions. It works to curate areas that are attractive to the human mind, while maintaining native plants and removing invasive species by selectively removing targeted plants, rather than mowing down an entire area, allowing the natural processes to continue, without disturbance. 

These new, more natural areas of the parks have been met with positivity, said the pair, as opposed to the previously mowed and flat landscapes. Davis shared that research shows that “lollipop” trees and perfect flowers don’t provide the same experience as a natural area, since the subject still feels trapped in an urban environment. By adding back organic opportunities to parks, residents are able to have a more mentally restorative experience, said Davis. 
A trend titled “forest bathing” is when individuals immerse themselves in nature, which allows them to inhale natural chemicals that improve health, he continued, adding that studies have noted that blood pressure is lowered by simply looking at a tree. 

“There have even been studies that have demonstrated that the more, the greater your ecosystem service quotient in a neighborhood, the lower the crime rate. It really has an impact on a community. So, when we say that we create landscapes that pay us back rather than cost, that’s what we mean,” said Davis. 

In the past two years, the division has planted 162 trees and 6,671 native plants, removed 2,020 exotic plants and removed 6,490 pounds of trash, while maintaining 215,323 square feet of landscape beds, 12 miles of trails, 143 acres of land, for an estimated cost savings of $74,000 and a value of $231,000 in ecosystems services added to the community. 

“This is what we mean when we say we create landscapes that pay us back rather than cost us. By altering the maintenance regime in thoughtful ways, we save money and simultaneously allow riparian forests to regenerate or provide critical meadow habitat for declining pollinators. These hard savings allow the Parks Department to reallocate recurring costs to other needs, thus making conservation park management strategies not only the healthier choice, but also the fiscally wiser one,” said Davis. 

Some of these hard savings come from the reduced mowing that has occured with the changes implemented, as Davis said that it costs approximately $800 per year to mow one acre regularly. This money can then, instead, be used to invest back into native landscapes or training employees on the new approaches by the Conservation Division.

King stated that a hidden surprise was the environmental community that was awoken with these new implementations. He shared that he walks the trails and is greeted by community members that are ecstatic with the changes made and are excited to contribute to keeping the space clean with new friends made. 

The community aspect is important as it offers opportunities for education. For example, King shared that many may not understand that there are negative environmental effects when bringing foreign plants to one’s yard. Instead, he suggested keeping them inside, to prevent spreading. 

The importance of returning to native plants has obviously been a focus of Davis and King, but the city still has a long way to go before it reaches what the pair hopes will be an expansive, healthy park system. In order to aid this effort, the pair sacrificed their evenings and nights for weeks to create a climate-ready native plant list.

The impact of this list was tectonic, said Davis. Some may have native plant lists, said Davis, but the climate-ready aspect is what led to the city of Kyle to speak at state and national meetings, presenting their work. Prior to starting the list, they analyzed the future of the city’s climate. According to King, the city sits on the cusp of two eco-regions, the first of which is the Edwards Plateau, which consists of rocky and shallow soil, while the Blackland Prairie sits on the other side and consists of thick, clay soil that shrinks and swells. 

Davis took this information and looked at the future of Central Texas and determined that in the next 50 years, the region will likely shift toward a climate similar to southern San Antonio, which is a dryer, sandy plain. From there, the two tackled a list of more than 6,000 plants to determine which will survive the change. 

“We would look at that county map and that little bubble we made and we didn’t just want to find plants that were native inside that [Kyle] bubble. We wanted to make sure that they were in that [San Antonio] bubble. Yes, they’re native now, but also that they were found south or west because in 50 years, with that changing climate, they should still be able to, hopefully, make it in Kyle,” explained King. 

By narrowing down the list to approximately 600 species, the city can now partake in assisted ecosystem adjustments, which Davis noted is when they take a species that they know will survive in both the current climate and the future, dryer climate and plant those here instead. This way, they are ahead of the climate changes. 

Although the list has approximately 600 species, King stated that when working with developers, they provide a different list, consisting of plants that are easily accessible through local growers in the area to assist with adding native plants back into the city. 

Ultimately, both King and Davis have a goal to create an environment that is healthier and better for both humans and animals, while having a space to escape the city. 

Community members interested in learning more can attend a monthly education seminar on the last Thursday of each month held at 208 Republic Drive, Suite A in Kyle or partake in volunteer opportunities. 

To learn more, visit www.cityofkyle.gov/living-here/parks-and-recreation/conservation.

Budget
According to interim city manager Perwez Moheet, the operations and maintenance expenditures amount to $419.9 million, but the total budget is $437,639,029, as it includes $17.7 million of transfers out. 

This also includes the $2,942,349 in amendments — library positions, Kyle Police Department fleet, Moreno Street drainage project and neutral funding for the Kyle Vista Park project — approved by council at prior meetings. 

“Tonight, I’m going to request council to make another amendment for the police department,” said Moheet. “That amendment totals $169,467 and let me explain what that is about. So, additional funds are needed to fund next year’s budget for the animal shelter services that will be provided to the city of Kyle through the city of San Marcos’ animal shelter facility.”

When the budget was initially drafted, an estimate of $299,336 was used, but actual numbers amount to $468,803, which leaves a difference of $169,467, said Moheet. 

Council member Marc McKinney motioned to add the money to the police budget for the upcoming fiscal year, with a second by council member Michael Tobias. The item passed 7-0.

Before approving the overall budget, council had the opportunity to make last minute comments. 

Council member Melisa Medina suggested having a structure for legal services, rather than using multiple outside firms, to save taxpayer dollars in the future.

Broaching the topic of staff raises again was council member Lauralee Harris, whose amendment to change this failed at a past meeting: “It would cost $1.5 million to provide a 3% raise for our staff. Our city is growing. They’re working longer hours; there are fewer of them. I think that is a disservice to them.”

Agreeing with this sentiment was council member Claudia Zapata, who suggested considering incentives in the coming months for staff. 

Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale stated that, “as a city, we have a finite amount of funds because it’s what we can collect from our residents, what we collect in sales tax, and to just keep saying, ‘Oh, well, we’ve got it; we’ve got it; we’ve got it; we’ve got to spend it.’ I think that that is not being necessarily a good steward.”

Zapata then asked KPD Chief Jeff Barnett for an update on the artificial intelligence (AI) Axon contract that she wanted amended. She noted that the Hays County Commissioners Court decided to not move forward with its $4.5 million, 10-year contract and that, actually, Kyle has a $7 million, 10-year contract. 

“I did reach out to Axon. I made the request, if they would try to separate out the individual components of our contract. They said that they would, in fact, do that, that they would try to provide the best they could. They did caution us [that] prices have gone up since we negotiated that contract about a year and a half ago because we’re now entering year two,” explained Barnett, adding that this meant that Axon didn’t foresee any cost savings from it. 
Although he requested the itemization, he said that he has not received it yet. 

“Thank you; I appreciate that. I think it’s necessary for council to be able to decide what sorts of tools it is that we want to use and probably get some better explanations behind some of those different AI tools that Axon is providing currently,” said Zapata. “I think it just baffles me that we are spending more money on the city of Kyle through this Axon contract than the entirety of Hays County for the sheriff’s department.”

Additionally, she recounted the fact that she has continuously brought motions forward to cancel contracts with Flock Safety that have failed. So, she motioned once more to cancel the 2024 and 2025 contracts through non appropriation in the amount of $381,000 and for the city attorney to bring back information on canceling the 2023 contract. It failed for a lack of second. 

Flores-Cale stated that she has an agenda item coming up that will hopefully allow for more discussion and information on the Flock Safety contracts. 

She then motioned to approve the budget, which passed 4-3, with Zapata, McKinney and Harris dissenting. 

Tax rate 
At its first tax rate reading, council approved a tax rate of $0.5600 per $100 valuation 6-1, with council member Melisa Medina dissenting. She noted during her vote that this is because she would have preferred the $0.5340 tax rate, as it would provide more relief for residents. 

Agenda documents state that an average homeowner, with a home valued at $301,530, would pay $1,464.57 after the homestead reduction — $189.19 less than in 2025 — with the $0.5600 rate.
Although this would be $0.0357 lower than the current tax rate of $0.5957, council began having discussions about an even lower rate at the Sept. 15 meeting.

Moheet shared that the $0.5600 tax rate was chosen because, at the time, council was discussing pay raises, so the rate was chosen to recover the amount of money needed to provide a general wage increase for all employees. 
The second option, which was preferable to Medina, was $0.5340 and would recover close to the proposed budget, without a raise to employees. It would leave a buffer of approximately $53,000 extra, he said. 
He then provided a new, third option of $0.5460, which would bring the city’s reserves to the $2.5 million that was present before council’s budget amendments.

Harris mentioned the raises again, since the $0.5600 would provide the money to do so, while still having a lower rate than the current tax rate. However, Flores-Cale said she began second guessing the $0.5600 number, despite approving it before.

“I like option number three, where it puts us back at least where we were projected to be before our amendments. It still produces a lower tax rate than we initially talked about, but I like keeping that cushion [of $2.5 million] in there in case we need to go over budget on something,” said council member Courtney Goza. 

Medina was also amendable to this number, as it still provides more of a tax break for residents, which is what she was striving for. 

Also appreciating the option was Zapata, though she was concerned about residents having a shock when the tax rate has to “inevitably” increase next year, due to debt being issued. 

Ultimately, Flores-Cale made a motion to approve $0.5460 as the tax rate. It passed 6-1, with Harris dissenting. 

To listen to the full discussion, visit bit.ly/3Vn9pqJ.

The event was organized with participation from the Hays County, San Marcos, Kyle and Buda law enforcement associations and drew a packed crowd in the Wimberley Community Center at the start of the evening, with candidates representing races in Buda, San Marcos, Kyle, Hays County and the State of Texas, among those in attendance. However, not every individual on the ballot was present.

The format gave candidates a limited amount of time to introduce themselves and answer questions, many of them focused specifically on law enforcement and public safety.

Across the different races, several themes repeatedly surfaced: how rapidly growing communities should pay for additional police officers and equipment, how cities can recruit and retain officers, the role of police associations and meet-and-confer agreements, how elected officials should react to controversial police incidents before investigations are complete and the increasingly contentious debate over automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology.
 

Buda City Council
George Torres, a Buda business owner seeking the At-Large Position 1 seat on Buda City Council, pointed repeatedly to the city's growth and the need to make public safety part of planning for that growth.

Torres said large housing and commercial projects should be evaluated for the demands they will place on city services, including police. He described law enforcement as a top budget priority, while arguing that those needs must be balanced with what he called "smart growth."

On ALPRs, Torres supported law enforcement having access to investigative technology, but expressed concern about private companies controlling or having access to surveillance data. His preference, he said, would be for law enforcement agencies themselves to maintain greater control over technology and information.

Torres also emphasized the importance of communication between elected officials, officers and the broader business community, stating that council members need to understand what officers are experiencing before making decisions about resources and working conditions.
 

San Marcos City Council Place 3
Current San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson told the audience that she is ending her tenure as mayor, but wants to continue in city government by seeking the Place 3 council seat.

Hughson leaned heavily on her years of experience in San Marcos government and argued that institutional knowledge can help the council understand how previous decisions shaped current conditions.

Public-safety staffing, she said, has already been the subject of a comprehensive review.

Hughson pointed to a 2022 police staffing analysis and said the council subsequently directed staff to develop a plan to increase staffing. Even after positions were added, she said, San Marcos' continued growth has kept pressure on the department.

She also highlighted the city's use of public safety liaisons to handle certain calls that do not require sworn officers, freeing police personnel for other duties.

When asked how city leaders should respond to a controversial police incident before all the facts are available, Hughson described the situation as a difficult balance between the public's demand for information and the need to avoid reaching conclusions before an investigation is complete. Her approach, she said, would be to complete the investigation as quickly as possible and make the facts available when they are established.
 

San Marcos City Council Place 4
Heather Hunter and Shane Scott presented voters with different backgrounds in the race for San Marcos City Council Place 4.

Hunter said she has worked in politics and campaigns and currently works in grants management, experience she said could be applied to budgeting, compliance and assessing city needs.

On police staffing, Hunter advocated using data and needs assessments, including response times, to determine whether more officers or resources are necessary.

She also emphasized performance standards, communication between the city and police officers and transparency when controversial incidents occur. Hunter said city officials should acknowledge publicly that an incident is under review, without getting ahead of an investigation before the facts are known.

Hunter also spoke about alternatives for calls involving mental health and homelessness, arguing that partnerships with mental health professionals and nonprofit organizations could allow police officers to focus on calls requiring law enforcement.

Scott emphasized his longtime ties to San Marcos, his small-business background and his criminal justice education.
He described himself as a strong supporter of police and said he supports continued growth in San Marcos accompanied by the public-safety resources necessary to serve that growth.

Scott also pointed to the city's meet-and-confer process as an important mechanism for addressing police compensation and employment issues and said he has supported the Police Officers Association during his time in city government.
 

San Marcos City Council Place 6
Bill Miller and Miguel Arredondo used the Place 6 discussion to offer two approaches to the pressures facing a growing San Marcos.

Miller, a Coast Guard veteran who said he performed law enforcement duties while serving, focused heavily on what he described as a shortage of officers.

He said public safety should be a funding priority and suggested that San Marcos explore whether Texas State University could contribute financially toward emergency services because of the demands the university population places on the city.

Miller also advocated an open-door relationship with police officers, saying officers at any level should be able to approach a council member with concerns.

Arredondo, a longtime San Marcos CISD trustee, framed public safety more broadly.

He argued that cities can support police not only by providing officers with staffing and equipment, but by addressing conditions that frequently result in police calls, including homelessness, housing insecurity and mental-health crises.
On recruitment and retention, Arredondo said San Marcos will have to look beyond salary alone. He pointed to ideas, such as workforce housing and public-private partnerships, as possible ways to make public employment more attractive in a city with limited financial resources.

Both candidates urged caution before elected officials made public judgments about controversial police encounters.
 

San Marcos Mayor
Ryan Thomason appeared without his opponent during the mayoral portion of the forum and used his extended opening to make public safety a central part of his campaign pitch.

Thomason argued that the protection of residents — particularly children and future generations — is one of the government's fundamental responsibilities.

He said San Marcos must prioritize police resources within its overall budget and argued that economic development can help generate revenue needed to support those services.

Thomason also identified officer recruitment, retention and morale as concerns, stating that compensation and workplace morale both influence whether officers remain with a department.

When addressing controversial police incidents, he said city officials should trust established investigative processes, while recognizing that those processes can be changed when the community and policymakers determine they are no longer adequate.

Kyle City Council District 2
Miguel Zuniga, seeking the District 2 seat on the Kyle City Council, focused much of his campaign pitch on growth, infrastructure and ensuring his district receives its share of city investment.

On ALPRs, Zuniga said his position has evolved.

While he previously supported technologies that could help police work more efficiently, he said concerns raised by residents about surveillance, data use and private companies have persuaded him that the issue deserves another look.

Rather than dismissing the technology entirely, Zuniga called for examining databases, contracts, privacy safeguards and the companies operating the systems.

He also supported meet-and-confer rights for police officers and said public safety depends heavily on trust between residents and law enforcement.

Beyond policing, Zuniga identified completing voter-approved road projects, improving infrastructure, conserving water and strengthening Kyle's commercial base as priorities for District 2.
 

Kyle City Council District 4
Leah Kaufman and Kenneth Rocha both brought public-safety experience into their discussion of the District 4 race.
Kaufman described herself as a former emergency medical technician who now works in the nonprofit sector on policy involving addiction and emerging drugs.

Rocha pointed to experience as a fire investigator and park ranger and said he has worked alongside law enforcement agencies in Hays County.

Rocha argued that ALPR technology itself should not automatically be characterized as harmful and said its value depends in large part on how trained professionals use it. At the same time, he said contracts, costs and policies governing technology deserve scrutiny.

Kaufman expressed reservations about private companies involved in ALPR technology, but stopped short of rejecting the systems outright. Instead, she called for guardrails, including restrictions on who can access data, auditing of searches, limits on data retention, requirements to destroy information after a certain period, restrictions on selling or sharing information and stronger data-security provisions.

The two also agreed on the importance of meet-and-confer agreements for officers.

Their approaches to public safety extended beyond enforcement. Kaufman discussed prevention, mental-health and substance-use responses and community policing. Rocha emphasized relationships between officers and residents, training, dispatch operations and ensuring first responders have both the equipment and support they need.
 

Kyle Mayor
Robert Rizo and Donnie Wills continued many of the themes heard throughout the municipal races as they made their cases for mayor of Kyle.

Rizo, a former three-term council member and mayor pro tem, pointed to his record in city government and community organizations. Wills, a retired military combat veteran said he has lived in Kyle for about 13 years and described watching the Buda-Kyle-San Marcos corridor transform as its population surged.

Wills supported using ALPR systems as crime-fighting tools, but said safeguards are necessary to prevent misuse of information and protect constitutional rights. He said people or organizations that improperly access or use the information should be held accountable.

Rizo said his position on technology has become more cautious. While he had previously supported license plate readers, he said reports of misuse elsewhere raised concerns about privacy and outside access to information.
Rizo suggested Kyle explore operating its own camera system, rather than depending entirely on a private vendor, arguing that local control could allow the city to establish its own safeguards while retaining the investigative benefits of the technology.

Both candidates also supported meet-and-confer rights for police officers.

Rizo tied public safety closely to Kyle's infrastructure needs, saying road construction has failed to keep pace with population growth. He argued that economic development and additional sales-tax revenue can help the city pay for roads and public-safety services without depending heavily on property taxes.

Wills similarly connected traffic congestion to emergency response times. He also emphasized programs for young people, arguing that sports and other activities can play a role in keeping youth out of trouble.
 

Hays County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 1
The forum shifted from municipal government to county offices with the race for Hays County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 1, featuring Beth Smith and Janie Flores.

Smith pointed to 28 years of experience as a justice of the peace and emphasized around-the-clock availability for law enforcement, death investigations and warrants.

Flores highlighted nearly two decades of experience working in the court system and said her focus would be on courtroom professionalism, efficient case management and treating those who come before the court with dignity and respect.

Youth vaping, including nicotine and THC products, became a major topic in the race.

Smith discussed the diversion process used for certain Class C citations involving students and said the goal should be to connect young people with resources and address the underlying cause of repeated behavior when cases ultimately reach the court.

Flores also emphasized connecting children and parents with community resources when those cases come before the justice court.

Both candidates said availability outside normal business hours is part of the responsibility of serving as a justice of the peace.

Smith pointed to her existing record of answering warrant requests and attending death inquests, while Flores said law enforcement would have direct contact information and could reach her at any hour when judicial action is required.
 

Hays County Court at Law No. 2
Incumbent judge Chris Johnson and challenger Charmaine Wilde focused heavily on the day-to-day responsibilities of a criminal court, including victims' rights, bond decisions, jail dockets and the availability of judges when officers need search warrants outside normal business hours.

Wilde, a former prosecutor now in private practice, said she has practiced criminal law in numerous Texas counties and argued that those experiences have exposed her to different approaches that could potentially be applied in Hays County.

Johnson emphasized his eight years serving in the position and his existing relationships within the county's criminal justice system.

Asked about victims of crime, both candidates said prosecutors and victim-services personnel have primary responsibility for keeping victims informed, while judges have an obligation to ensure victims' legal rights are respected during court proceedings.

Their answers on bond decisions also shared common ground: individual cases should be evaluated on their own facts, rather than through predetermined assumptions.

On the county's jail docket, Wilde advocated closely tracking caseloads and trends to identify delays and adjust court availability when necessary.

Johnson said regular jail dockets have already helped address much of the backlog and argued that in-person proceedings generally work better than remote proceedings, while adding that judges should remain open to changing procedures if evidence shows another approach would be more effective.

Both also stressed availability to law enforcement after hours.

Johnson cited his record of taking warrant calls at night, on weekends and even while traveling. Wilde said her work as an attorney and professional guardian has similarly accustomed her to receiving urgent calls outside traditional working hours.
 

Hays County Commissioner Precinct 2
Abby Gibson and Johnny Flores offered different approaches to the Precinct 2 seat on the Hays County Commissioners Court, but both identified public safety and infrastructure as central responsibilities of county government.

Gibson said commissioners should ensure the sheriff, constables and other public-safety departments receive the resources they need, while allowing those elected officials to manage their own operations.

She advocated regular meetings with department heads, rather than waiting until the annual budget process to identify staffing, equipment and funding problems.

Gibson also said Hays County needs to remain competitive on salaries and benefits, describing retention and compensation as significant challenges for local law enforcement.

Flores, who formerly served on the Hays CISD Board of Trustees, pointed to his experience dealing with campus security and school-safety spending. He said recruiting and retaining officers will become increasingly important as Hays County continues to grow.

Flores also argued for addressing factors that contribute to repeated contact with the criminal justice system, including mental health, housing and poverty, as another way to reduce pressure on law enforcement.

Technology produced a clearer distinction between their approaches.

Flores proposed creating a citizens committee that could include residents and retired law enforcement officers to examine emerging technologies and recommend safeguards for privacy and appropriate use.

Gibson cautioned against rejecting technology that could assist officers, while arguing that users should be properly vetted, policies enforced and outside audits used to make sure systems are operating as intended.

When asked to identify their top funding priorities, Gibson named roads and infrastructure, public safety and water.
Flores identified emergency response, mental-health services and roads and infrastructure.
 

Hays County Commissioner Precinct 4
By the time the Precinct 4 race was called, the length of the evening itself had become part of the discussion.
Rob McClelland joked that the gathering might be approaching a record for the longest forum, noting that candidates and attendees had already been there for roughly two hours and 45 minutes.

McClelland appeared without his opponent during his portion of the forum.

An Army veteran and Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustee, McClelland emphasized his military experience, work with federal law enforcement during an assignment connected to the White House and his involvement with school safety.

He pointed to the Dripping Springs school marshal program as an example of prioritizing public-safety spending when resources are limited.

McClelland said commissioners should work directly with the sheriff and constables to determine what technology their departments need, rather than having commissioners dictate operational decisions.

He identified public safety, transportation and critical infrastructure — including water — as his top three funding priorities.

McClelland also placed significant emphasis on officer recruitment and retention, arguing that compensation matters, but that department policies and the relationship between elected officials and law enforcement also affect whether officers want to work and remain in a community.
 

428th Judicial District Court
Paul Still and Cassie Benoist-Templeton presented themselves as two candidates whose legal careers have been closely connected to criminal law.

Still described himself as a board-certified criminal appellate attorney working for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and a former Harris County prosecutor.

Benoist-Templeton described herself as a career prosecutor with roughly 15 years of courtroom experience, including years handling felony cases and crimes involving women and children.

Both said victims' rights must be respected, while judges maintain their distinct role as neutral arbiters of the law.
Still emphasized deciding cases based on evidence and law, rather than political considerations.

Benoist-Templeton stressed that criminal cases cannot be handled through a one-size-fits-all approach. She said rehabilitation can work for appropriate defendants, while other cases require different consequences based on their individual facts.

Both candidates also promised to be accessible to law enforcement when time-sensitive search warrants arise at night, on weekends or during holidays.

Benoist-Templeton pointed to her experience as an on-call felony prosecutor, saying she is already accustomed to receiving calls from officers at all hours.

Still described similar experiences from his time as a Harris County prosecutor handling vehicle-related felony cases and said officers would have a direct way to reach him.

The candidates also addressed jail cases.

Still said defendants being held in jail should receive priority on court calendars and argued that judges need to monitor cases closely and set them for trial when necessary to prevent unnecessary delays.

Benoist-Templeton, likewise, said judges are responsible for keeping their dockets moving, while recognizing that complicated cases, such as capital murder or child sexual abuse cases, naturally require more time than less complex criminal matters. She suggested additional jail-only dockets could be used when necessary to clear lingering cases.
 

Texas House District 45
The House District 45 contest brought some of the evening’s clearest policy differences into view, particularly on the role of state government in local law enforcement, prosecutorial discretion, firearms policy and immigration enforcement.

State Rep. Erin Zwiener, who has represented the district since 2019, emphasized local control and state financial support for local agencies. She pointed to state grant funding for rural law enforcement and said she worked to ensure Hays County remained eligible for funding based on census population figures.

On prosecutorial discretion, Zwiener argued that locally elected prosecutors should retain authority to determine how their offices prioritize cases and resources. Her opponent, Tennyson Moreno, took a different position, arguing that criminal laws should be enforced consistently across jurisdictions and expressing support for greater accountability when local officials decline to enforce state law.

The candidates also differed sharply on firearms policy.

Zwiener said she would prioritize gun-safety legislation, including permitting requirements for certain semiautomatic rifles, expanded background checks and red-flag laws. She framed those proposals in part around reducing risks faced by law enforcement officers responding to potentially armed individuals.

Moreno, instead emphasized infrastructure and support for law enforcement agencies, arguing that safer roads, bridges and intersections could reduce demands on first responders. He also said public rhetoric toward police affects both officer morale and community attitudes toward law enforcement.

Both candidates repeatedly returned to the rapid growth of Hays County and the strain it places on public-safety resources.
 

Texas House District 73
State Rep. Carrie Isaac and challenger Mary Fox followed in the House District 73 race, which includes western Hays County and Comal County.

Isaac highlighted her legislative record, including support for state funding for law-enforcement equipment and rural law-enforcement grants. She said she would continue pursuing policies aimed at retaining officers and strengthening public safety.

Fox, a retired school principal, drew on her experience working with school resource officers and law enforcement on campus emergency plans and safety procedures. She said the state should provide additional funding to help local agencies compete for officers, dispatchers and other personnel.

The candidates differed on prosecutorial oversight. Isaac discussed state efforts to impose additional requirements on prosecutors and courts, while Fox emphasized local control and said voters should generally be trusted to hold locally elected officials accountable.

Workers’ compensation for injured first responders also drew attention. Isaac suggested deadlines for insurance carriers to approve or deny claims and clearer explanations when claims are rejected. Fox said reforms should be developed in consultation with officers and agencies experiencing problems with the system.

Another difference emerged over red-flag laws, which can temporarily take guns away from individuals who may pose a threat. Fox said she would support such legislation, drawing partly on her experience as an emergency medical services (EMS) volunteer responding to domestic violence and mental-health calls. Isaac said she opposed red-flag laws and emphasized due-process concerns.
 

Hays County Judge
The race for Hays County judge brought Michelle Gutierrez Cohen, Geoffrey Tahuahua and former county judge Liz Sumter Gajdos to the stage.

Gutierrez Cohen, who presently serves in the Hays County Precinct 2 commissioner seat, emphasized collaboration, road infrastructure and emergency management. She described public safety as closely connected to transportation, noting that deputies, firefighters and EMS crews must be able to move through a rapidly growing county.

She also discussed development of a county strategic plan and called for stronger partnerships among Hays County, neighboring counties, cities, school districts and state agencies as the Austin-San Antonio corridor continues to grow.
Tahuahua, a Dripping Springs City Council member who previously led North Hays County EMS, focused on what he described as a need to return county government to core responsibilities, with public safety near the top.

He said the county judge should regularly communicate with the sheriff and constables about resources, continually review policies and technology and improve regional cooperation among county agencies and municipal police departments.

Sumter Gajdos drew on her previous tenure as county judge, including work involving law-enforcement compensation and collective bargaining. She emphasized competitive salaries, regular market studies, community policing and rebuilding trust between residents, elected officials and law enforcement.

The candidates were asked how Hays County should compete with surrounding jurisdictions for experienced peace officers, jailers, dispatchers and other employees. All three supported using compensation data and market comparisons, though each placed different emphasis on pay, workplace conditions, leadership and employee support.

With Hays County positioned between Austin and San Antonio, candidates were asked about drug trafficking, human trafficking, organized crime and other offenses that cross jurisdictional lines.

Gutierrez Cohen stressed regional planning and shared initiatives. Tahuahua emphasized relationships among agencies and his experience coordinating with neighboring jurisdictions during emergencies. Sumter Gajdos pointed to regional alliances and interoperable communications, so agencies can communicate during disasters and other major incidents.

Their answers reflected one of the recurring themes of the night: Hays County’s growth is increasingly making public safety a regional issue rather than one that stops at city or county lines.

Hays County Criminal District Attorney
The final race of the evening featured Alfonso Salazar and Kirsta Melton for Hays County criminal district attorney.

Salazar described a career that has included military law enforcement, prosecution and criminal defense. He argued that those different perspectives would help him improve communication between prosecutors and law-enforcement agencies.

His priorities included mental-health intervention, juvenile justice and creating what he described as a civil-rights division within the district attorney’s office to improve transparency and public trust.

Melton emphasized her 26 years as a prosecutor, including work involving child abuse, family violence, sexual offenses, human trafficking and transnational organized crime. She also cited experience training prosecutors and law-enforcement officers and working on human-trafficking legislation.

She said one of her primary goals would be making the district attorney’s office more transparent, including providing the public with information about cases received, rejected and taken to trial. She also called for regular communication with law enforcement and a stronger “state’s ready” approach when courts call cases for trial.

The candidates were asked how they would balance punishment, rehabilitation and public safety.

Melton said specialty and diversion courts can play important roles, but drew a firm distinction for serious violent offenses, arguing that public safety must take priority in cases involving crimes such as murder, sexual abuse and serious family violence.

Salazar emphasized evaluating cases individually, rather than relying on broad categories. He said circumstances and severity matter, while also making clear that serious offenses, such as murder, sexual assault and major gun violence, require incarceration and accountability.

Juvenile justice produced more common ground.

Both candidates said the system should distinguish between relatively minor juvenile behavior and serious or repeated offenses. Salazar stressed addressing barriers, such as unstable homes, lack of transportation and food insecurity, that can prevent juveniles from completing diversion programs. Melton similarly argued that technical violations should not automatically result in detention, while maintaining that accountability remains important when conduct becomes serious, violent or repeatedly harmful.

After the last district attorney candidates finished, organizers thanked the candidates, timekeepers, event sponsors and the law-enforcement officers and families who remained through the long evening.

Then, came one final request from the moderator to those still in the room: Go vote — and take three people with you.

The general election will take place Tuesday, Nov. 3, with early voting beginning Oct. 19. For more information on the Hays County elections, visit www.hayscountytx.gov/172/Elections. 

KYLE — Hats Off For Veterans (HOFV), a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans through education, professional development and mental health resources, announced the appointment of Sergeant Timothy Owens of the Kyle Police Department to its Advisory Board.

Owens has served with KPD for nine years and currently serves as a sergeant overseeing the department’s Mental Health Team, according to a press release. Throughout his law enforcement career, he has served in a variety of capacities, bringing experience in public safety, community engagement, leadership and mental health response.

“Sgt. Owens brings an incredibly important perspective to our Advisory Board,” said Lisa Adams, founder and CEO of HOFV. “Mental health is a significant part of our mission and having someone with his professional experience, compassion and understanding of the challenges facing individuals and families in crisis will be invaluable. Most importantly, Sgt. Owens genuinely cares about people and our community. We are honored that he has chosen to serve alongside us.”

As an Advisory Board member, Owens will provide insight and guidance as HOFV continues to strengthen and expand its programs serving Texas veterans and their families, particularly the organization’s mental health and peer-support initiatives, the release continued.

“I’m honored to join the Hats Off For Veterans Advisory Board and support an organization that is making a meaningful difference in the lives of veterans and their families,” said Owens. “I look forward to contributing my experience in mental health, law enforcement and community service, while helping HOFV continue to grow its impact across Texas.”

In addition to his law enforcement career, Owens is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice through East Texas A&M University. He is a husband and father of two and enjoys sports, golf, audiobooks and podcasts.

HOFV was founded in 2023 with a mission to ensure veterans have access to resources that help them successfully navigate life beyond military service. HOFV provides higher education scholarships, professional development grants and free mental health and peer-support programs for veterans and their families.

The addition of Owens to the Advisory Board further strengthens HOFV’s commitment to bringing together experienced community leaders who share the organization’s dedication to serving those who have served, the release concluded.

Hwang, a professor of civil and environmental engineering in TXST’s Ingram School of Engineering, received a $457,000 grant from the city of Kyle for the three-year project, “In-Reservoir Water Quality Management with Floating Wetlands,” according to a news release.

The research comes as Kyle continues to grow rapidly. U.S. Census Bureau estimates show the city’s population jumped by 53% from 2020 to 2025, reaching 69,917 residents. Continued development can increase stormwater runoff, which can carry sediment, nutrients, bacteria and other pollutants into local waterways.

Lake Kyle is a 12.5-acre recreational lake, where residents can fish, walk trails, picnic and spend time outdoors. Cleaner water can support recreation, aquatic habitat and waterways beyond Kyle, as Plum Creek flows through Hays and Caldwell counties before joining the San Marcos River.

“This grant represents recognition and trust from the community that our research can contribute to addressing real-world environmental and water challenges,” Hwang said. “It provides an opportunity to translate our academic research into practical solutions that can directly benefit the community.”

Floating wetlands are buoyant platforms planted with wetland vegetation. Their roots dangle into the water, where they absorb nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and host microorganisms that break down pollutants and trap suspended particles.

Unlike traditional treatment methods that rely primarily on mechanical equipment or chemicals, floating wetlands harness plants, roots and natural processes to clean the water. They can be anchored directly in lakes and ponds without requiring additional land or major infrastructure.

Hwang’s team is monitoring Lake Kyle to measure current water quality conditions and pinpoint potential pollution sources. The researchers have already tested a small-scale floating wetland in the lab and are now testing a larger version under conditions that better match Lake Kyle, continued the release. The team expects to launch the floating wetlands in spring 2027, followed by continued monitoring to measure how well they work.

“Our research goes beyond the laboratory,” Hwang said. “Rather, we are working on-site and testing a nature-based solution that could have practical value for the community.”

As part of its baseline monitoring, the research will also screen for contaminants of emerging concern, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — often called “forever chemicals” — although PFAS have not been identified as a current water quality problem in Lake Kyle or the Plum Creek Watershed.

Hwang is the project’s sole principal investigator, leading a team of doctoral, graduate and undergraduate students from his HEDGE Research Group. The student team includes:

• Pranesha Dangol, a civil engineering undergraduate student who focuses on water quality monitoring and analysis.

• Prajwal Bhattarai, a civil engineering doctoral student who works on the design and construction of the floating wetlands.

• Bibek Paudel, a computer science undergraduate student who supports data analytics.

The project will give Kyle clearer data and new tools to protect local water resources as the community grows, while providing a model other cities can adapt to their own water-quality challenges, said the release. By pairing natural processes with existing treatment and stormwater practices, the research could help shape a more sustainable approach to managing water across Texas and beyond.

Beginning with the history of the project, planning director Will Atkinson noted that in 2021, a task force was formed to investigate the trails program in Carmel, Ind., and Peachtree City, Ga. This resulted in the concept of the Vybe Trail in 2022, with the goal of a city-wide trail system to be used by pedestrians, cyclists and golf cart users.

According to the presentation, the pathway first began as an 80-mile network, but expanded to 110.5 miles with the adoption of the 2025 Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. Of this, developers will contribute 63 miles, or 57%, the road bond was supposed to provide 8 miles, or 7.2%, making the city’s remaining responsibility 39.5 miles, or 35.75%.

It’s also intended to be concrete and ADA compliant. Because golf carts will be allowed, they must be registered with the Kyle Police Department, have head and tail lights, license plates and travel at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour.

“The system is split into two components. The first being the trail system itself at 12 [feet] in width, made of concrete with decorative lighting along the routes. The trail system is intended for recreational use. The second portion are the ‘Vybe Nodes’ that are higher density living [and] walkable, with ground floor commercial opportunities. The idea is to be able to spend the day on the trail and visit different nodes, each unique,” read agenda documents.

The estimated cost of the trail is $3 million per mile, continued the documents, with the intent of the project being to have private developers build individual segments that total 57% of the trail system.

At the $3 million per mile estimate, the Vybe Trail will cost $347,500,000. After removing developer and road bond funding, Kyle would pay $118,500,000.

Atkinson stated that although restrooms are not required by the city’s adopted Vybe Trail Ordinance, staff is looking to negotiate with developers to add them in at key intervals. He also shared that the ordinance requires Wi-Fi to be available, but that “the city expense and the logistical hurdles of it is astronomical, so we have not added that yet.”

For security, the ordinance dictates that each trailhead and mile marker have numbers on them, so that response teams will know where they are, if they get lost.

So far, 16.03 miles have been constructed, which is 14.5%. There is no current timeline for completion, as it is such a large scale project, said Atkinson.

Additionally, three projects are in the works: Steeplechase Park improvements for $220,000; East Plum Creek Trail improvements for $800,000 through the 2020 parks bond; and $6,903,048 for the 2022 road bonds.

Council member Melisa Medina noted that the Center Street improvements, which include 1.2 miles of the trail, are $19 million over budget and that the “12-foot really isn’t even necessarily all that safe, unless you’re going to stripe it like a regular road. Recommendations that I’ve seen are 14 to 16 feet. So, with that, are we even doing justice in trying to build a 12-foot path? One could argue that you really need to build it wider, but with that, we don’t have that option.”

The reason for adding golf carts, said council member Michael Tobias, was because council was looking for opportunities to allow community members to traverse the city, while removing traffic from roadways.

Council member Claudia Zapata stated that the reason the Vybe Trail needs to be built in the first place is because none of the roads in the city include bike lanes: “This city fails to provide multiple types of transportation options for those who may not have a vehicle, can’t afford a vehicle or would just like to bike … I, for one, don’t think golf carts should be included on there. I would be open to changing that because I just don’t think that’s safe.”

She also praised Austin for having days that visitors can bike to historic sites to learn about the city and proposed implementing a similar system in Kyle by having plaques throughout the trail with information.

“The plan has been poorly planned,” said Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale. “Sometimes, the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing and instead of having dedicated staff and a dedicated department, we have it mixed out everywhere. My hope is that will change in the future and that we could have dedicated people, so that we can all be on the same page.”

She also stated that during a past council meeting, when they were discussing the 2022 road bond, that $4 million was slated to be included in it for the Vybe Trail, but “somehow that amount, nor the Vybe in general, made it to the bond language and so, that for me is a bit of frustration because it was a big discussion/argument between me and the previous mayor, which then led to a motion to include it in the bond and for some reason, it never made it into the language … I just want the residents to know that I feel like we’re cleaning up yet another mess.”

Zapata added that while some specific listings in the road bonds are being considered, some are changed and are being overlooked. Council has every right to do this, she said, but wanted to ensure that they are not “just being nitpicky.” Flores-Cale rebutted that there are not many specific terms in the bond language, as it was very vague, which is why she voted against it to begin with.

An example of this is that the bond language states “sidewalk,” instead of Vybe Trail, said the mayor, which means that golf carts would not be allowed, as the city ordinance prohibits them, according to city attorney Aimee Alcorn-Reed.

Ultimately, council opted to ask staff to bring back an item to potentially amend the Vybe Trail Ordinance and update it to align more with the road bond.

Next, a resolution to reevaluate the Center Street on-system and off-system projects was presented. The goal of this item was for council to select either the proposed 12-foot Vybe Trail or a 6-foot sidewalk, determine whether electrical utilities should be relocated underground or remain overhead and potentially authorize the interim city manager to exceed the original budget.

As previously reported by the Hays Free Press, the off-system runs from Old Stagecoach Road to Veterans Drive, while the on-system is from Veterans Drive to Main Street.

For the off-system portion, the proposed plan includes a three-lane roadway configuration, with a 12-foot Vybe Trail on the north side and a 6-foot sidewalk on the south side. This plan also requires utilities to be relocated from overhead to underground. The on-system portion of the project would include widening the roadway to a three-lane configuration, adding a traffic signal at the intersection of Veterans Drive and Center Street, a 12-foot Vybe Trail on the north side, a 6-foot sidewalk on the south side and moving the overhead utilities underground.

City engineer Leon Barba noted that the city council will save approximately $8 million, if a 6-foot sidewalk is adopted, while maintaining overhead utilities.

The costs are as follows:

Off-system: Original budget is $12.3 million

• Option 1: 12-foot Vybe and underground utilities: $29 million

• Option 2: 6-foot sidewalk and overhead utilities: $23.6 million

• Option 3: 12-foot Vybe and overhead utilities: $24.2 million

On-system: Original budget is $10.2 million

• Option 1: 12-foot Vybe and underground utilities: $12 million

• Option 2: 6-foot sidewalk and overhead utilities: $9.6 million

• Option 3: 12-foot Vybe and overhead utilities: $10.2 million

“Maybe I’m doing the math wrong, [but it says] $41 million for this whole [part] from Stagecoach to Burleson. I thought last time it was $31 million,” questioned Flores-Cale.

Barba explained that these are just cost estimates and that the prices could either be more or less as details are finalized.

After discussion noting that a tree on Center Street will likely be affected, Flores-Cale stated that she is “going to make it very clear that at no point am I going to do eminent domain for this Vybe Trail. If other people are comfortable with doing that, that’s their vote. But I’m not a proponent or a fan of eminent domain for any reason … I’m not going to take somebody’s backyard, front yard, side way — I’m not interested in doing that. So, for me that option [3] is off the table.”

Rick Klatt, associate vice president of Lochner, which manages the road bond programs, stated that to do a 12-foot sidewalk at all, whether overhead or underground utilities, for the off-system would require two to three parcels to be obtained for utility easements, which could require eminent domain.

Council member Marc McKinney stated that he feels the trail would activate downtown. Not only would community members find new aspects of the city they hadn’t noticed before, but they could also have a 16- to- 18-passenger locomotive to drive around on nice weather days.

“There’s just so many little things you can do with a Vybe system network. What we’re envisioning. As we start carving it up and taking out segments though, it becomes less useful and provides less value overall. So, that’s my two cents,” said McKinney.

The mayor was also concerned about the cost, as with the current road bond projects, the city is expected to have a $55 million deficit.

Bunton and Lehman roads, specifically, will be affected, said Tobias, which are critical, and the eastern portion of Bebee Road.

“It’s not as simple as prioritizing which one goes first or second or third. The right-of-way acquisition, the status of design, the equipment ordering ahead of time — all of that is involved,” said interim city manager Perwez Moheet. “So, [it’ll be] depending on where we are when we run out of money.”

Zapata questioned why council is considering not finishing roads, as the option before them is to allow Moheet to exceed the budget. So, she suggested allowing him to exceed the budget to complete the roads, even if it meant putting a pause on the Vybe Trail.

“The voters of Kyle have authorized $294 million for the nine roads [in the bond]. You can make the budget $500 million — doesn’t really matter. The question is, if you go above $294 million, where’s the difference going to come from? Are you, as council, authorizing the city manager to issue non-voter authorized debt [with certificates of obligations]? If the answer is yes, we have unlimited money and your taxes will go up along with it. If your answer is stay with $294 million, then we stop where that money runs out,” said Moheet.

Continuing on with her idea, Zapata stated that residents are owed these roads.

“I want to get people their roads. I’m sick and tired of everyone complaining about, ‘Eastside doesn’t have this. The eastside doesn’t have that.’ We all know that and guess what? There have been members on this dais who have had the ability for years to get those things to the eastside,” she stressed.

“Then why are we having this discussion then,” prompted Tobias. “Why are we looking at economic development downtown? Why are we looking at this? … Why are y’all talking about sidewalks downtown?”

Flores-Cale was in agreement, stating that they should instead move forward with improving Bunton and Lehman roads and put the Vybe Trail on pause, which was also requested by the Trail Coalition.

Because council member Lauralee Harris, in whose district the Vybe Trail largely lies, was not in attendance and the fact that an item to pause the project was not on the agenda, staff was asked to bring it back at a later date. The resolution regarding the scope of the Center Street off-system and on-system was tabled 6-0, to be brought back.

“I want to apologize to everybody for all the pause. It’s tough for us, too. We want to see these things move forward, but we also want to make sure we’re doing it in a way that’s fiscally responsible and it makes sense to the totality of the residents,” concluded Flores-Cale.

To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/3VpPZRX.

At approximately 9:55 p.m. Aug. 23, officers responded to a major crash involving a motorcycle near exit 213 on southbound IH-35. The motorcyclist, identified as 21-year-old Angelina Duran of Austin, was transported to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries. 

During the investigation, witnesses told police they saw Duran racing with a gray Audi before the crash. Using witness statements, dash camera footage and automated license plate reader technology, officers identified the driver of the Audi as Alejandro Ortiz-Fernandez, 20, of Manor.

Ortiz-Fernandez was arrested Tuesday, Sept. 15, and charged with racing on a highway resulting in serious bodily injury or death, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

“The Kyle Police Department reminds drivers that racing and reckless driving can have tragic consequences,” a KPD representative said. “We will continue to enforce traffic laws to help keep our roadways safe.”

At approximately 6 p.m., Alonso Echeverria stole a vehicle from the 800 block of Kohlers Crossing in Kyle with a 5-month-old child still inside. He drove the vehicle to an emergency room in Buda, where he abandoned both the vehicle and the child before fleeing on foot.

Investigators used automated license plate reader technology to quickly identify and locate the stolen vehicle. Officers recovered the unharmed infant and reunited the child with the family.

As the investigation continued, officers discovered evidence linking the suspect to another vehicle theft that occurred at 3:30 p.m. in the 4000 block of Cromwell Drive in Kyle.

Through a coordinated effort involving the Kyle Police Department, Buda Police Department and the Hays County Sheriff's Office, officers searched for the suspect. Following a social media post with the suspect's description, a tip from a community member helped officers locate him near an apartment complex in the 1200 block of Cabela's Drive in Buda.

While attempting to evade arrest, the suspect entered two occupied apartment homes before being taken into custody without further incident.

The suspect was identified as Echeverria of Bastrop.

"We are incredibly grateful the child was recovered unharmed so quickly," said KPD Chief Jeff Barnett. "This case highlights the importance of investigative resources, including automated license plate reader technology."

"We are thankful for the strong partnerships among local law enforcement agencies that helped bring this incident to a safe resolution." BPD Chief Bo Kidd added.

KPD charged Echeverria with abandoning or endangering a child, theft of property valued between $30,000 and $150,000, tampering with a government record, tampering with physical evidence and evading arrest or detention with previous convictions, along with multiple theft-related offenses, criminal mischief and public intoxication. BPD additionally charged Echeverria with criminal trespass of a habitation.

The item was initially on the consent agenda, but was pulled by council member Michael Tobias. According to agenda documents, council approved a contract for $5 million Aug. 19, 2025, which was recently found to be incorrect, due to “an administrative error.” The project contract was for the design and installation of hardware and software for the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Master Plan to replace the city’s current aging and “increasingly unreliable” system that provides remote monitoring and control of the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure.

Mike Murphy, director of Water Utilities, noted that staff used “a competitive sealed proposal,” instead of a traditional request for proposals, which used new documents and forms aimed to “ensure that we got the best, most qualified contractor to do the project.”

Afterwards, a review team determined that TMT should be selected, with a bid of $2,685,446.96. He stated that this team did not have access to the costs, only the technical capability of the contractor when selecting, as the now-nonexistent Procurement Department oversaw the contracts.

A miscommunication occurred when the bid, which was supposed to split the cost evenly in the water and wastewater Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) process, instead replicated the total amount in each CIP, creating a higher bid of approximately $5 million.

“The first question I had is, ‘Why is it so high?’ And the immediate response was because we expedited the project by six months. So, we thought, ‘Okay, that’s appropriate,’” recalled Murphy, adding that this miscommunication occurred with each of the contractors, so the number didn’t seem unreasonable, compared to others. “So, we just moved the project forward. We came to council [and] council approved an amendment to pay $5 million to TMT to build the project.”

Then, earlier this year, in July, a staff member came to Murphy, sharing that he “found $2 million” in the project after discovering left over money. The Procurement Department then looked at the numbers and the contract for the first time, said Murphy, where they discovered the mistake.

Because of this, the item brought forth to council would approve a resolution to authorize interim city manager Perwez Moheet to reduce the contracted amount to the appropriate $2.6 million.

TMT acknowledged the mistake and signed the amendment, so the project will move forward as expected, said Murphy.

Following Tobias’ question about whose desk saw these contracts, Moheet stepped in, as “Murphy, for whatever reason, is not disclosing it … The ultimate responsibility was that of the former city manager. One, the Procurement desk that he keeps referring to was: our super genius [procurement supervisor] Dan Dellemonache that is no longer with the city; Joshua Chronley was the assistant director — part of the management team — that is no longer with the city; and Rosie Truelove, who oversaw the Administrative Services Department when this project all started, [who is also] no longer with the city. So, when people come up here and say the entire department quit — they didn’t quit. I asked them to leave,” emphasized the interim city manager.

Tobias stated that he was frustrated and asked how many more of these instances the city has? According to Moheet, there are several other instances of errors.

“I will not allow for the chastising of our staff to happen and for blame or fingers to be pointed as if mistakes don’t happen. Our staff has a tremendous weight of work upon them and we have cut their services. We have cut their departments. We have cut their budgets and we expect them to be continuously running smoothly, seamlessly. Yes, it was a $2.5 million mistake, but mistakes do happen,” said council member Claudia Zapata. “I find it extremely unprofessional and extremely disrespectful the way in which they are being spoken about tonight.”

“It was their job — that's what they get paid to do,” interjected Tobias.

Council member Lauralee Harris added that the Procurement Department was added when former city manager Bryan Langley began, so policies were still being developed.

“I can understand asking for grace because we are all human, but $2.5 million is literally our whole cushion for [fiscal year] 2026-27. That’s a large amount of money,” said Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale. “This is our second contract where we’ve had an issue. So, it’s not just about proving and pointing fingers. It’s about really tightening up our belt and figuring out what’s working and what’s not working.”

The motion to approve a resolution to amend the contract passed 7-0.

To listen to the full discussion, visit bit.ly/4zTwyAP.

Budget amendments

Prior to the discussion, interim city manager Perwez Moheet recapped the budget that has been presented to council, along with amendments and potential tax rates.

The $417 million recommended budget includes operations and maintenance expenditures, debt service and capital improvement projects. This is nearly $200 million less than the fiscal year 2025-26 budget. However, council made several amendments requests at the Aug. 27 meeting, for which Moheet shared numbers.

Council member Lauralee Harris requested a 3% general wage increase for all civilian city employees, with the exception of the management team and all sworn positions, at the previous meeting. The total impact would be $798,197, said Moheet. Offering another option to provide for employees was council member Claudia Zapata, who suggested a one-time employee rest and recognition payment of $1,800, which she stated could be lowered to $1,200, if needed. For the $1,800 payment, the impact to the budget would be $795,065.

“We can’t make votes based on just our feelings because we have a duty to our taxpayers. We have a duty to our staff and I’d like to think we’ve done really well taking care of them. Sometimes, you don’t get a raise and sometimes, you don’t get a bonus. That’s not to say we don’t appreciate you [or that] we don’t like you. It’s the fact that you can’t afford it,” said Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale.

“I also think that we’re coming up on Labor Day [and] to be anti-worker right before Labor Day to me isn’t the best of moves,” said Zapata.

“Do I think Monday is a holiday, yes. Do I think I need to make a vote because Monday’s a holiday? Absolutely not,” stated Flores-Cale.

Ultimately, the mayor made a motion to move forward without either the raise or bonus check. The item passed 4-3, with council members Marc McKinney, Harris and Zapata dissenting.

The next request was by McKinney, who discussed a proposed increase of $950,000 for KPD, which included $800,000 for the fleet budget and $150,000 for training, according to the presentation. Currently, the police budget is proposed at $21,948,238, which includes $723,299 for fleet lease requirements, though KPD’s latest lease cost estimates amount to $964,280, said Moheet.

KPD Chief Jeff Barnett took to the podium to discuss the fleet budget.

“Obviously, this year this budget has been a challenge and something that everybody's had to work through very diligently … So, one of the tasks — or challenges or call it opportunities — that we were given as staff to work to collectively try to avoid a 10% pay cut for staff,” explained Barnett, adding that this cut wouldn’t include meet and confer officers. “As part of our offer to avoid that, we found where we could reduce our original budget for fleet by about $330,000 … Out of that $330,000, which was part of about a $600,000 ask of the [police department], we recommended about 20 vehicles that we could remove from the police fleet and minimize the impact to operations.”

The $330,000 was found by eliminating lease contracts for 20 vehicles. Some of the vehicles to be removed include: five damaged, marked police cars that need to be replaced, but are on hold; a command Tahoe used by the chief and assistant chief; one victim services vehicle; and more. Additionally, the department decided that six leased cars that were at the end of their term could be purchased for approximately $400 each, instead of being replaced with newer, leased models, as is standard.

Separately, a gap of $240,981 was identified. This amounts to 12 additional vehicle leases that would have to be terminated, said Barnett.

“I think the concerns that I was hearing from some of your section is that if we reduce these 20 vehicles, I guess the perception would be that you would be left with maybe 13 vehicles or maybe less than that per shift,” shared council member Michael Tobias. “I was [also] hearing that you would not be able to have that response time for situations or critical incidents. You would also have to have officers doubling up in vehicles.”

Barnett confirmed that some officers would have to share cars, stating that if the police were able to have the $240,000, that it “keeps from diving into something that really might impact the available fleet, as it relates to community services and response.” Furthermore, he stated that if council approved $157,764 nine vehicles could remain from the 20 that are planned to be cut.

He also said that , in an attempt to find savins, he tried to negotiate deferrals for Axon contracts, but was unable to do so in the time before budget presentations began.

In response to this, Zapata brought up the artificial intelligence Axon plan, which she stated is $2 million over 10 years or $200,000 a year. She wanted to know if KPD could potentially remove this part of the contract, essentially providing them with the amount requested.

“At the same time, I think it’s fair to say that KPD are the only ones experiencing an increase in pay. The general fund impact for the meet and confer [agreement] is $788,990,” she said. “So, while the rest of every other single staff member at the city of Kyle is not experiencing that support, KPD is. I’m not saying that y’all don’t make sacrifices every day. I understand that you do, but what I’m trying to understand is how we can’t [remove] these softwares, these AI softwares, specifically, that are dangerous, that are harmful, that are inconsistent and that also lead to the creation of AI data centers.”

The budget has to be finalized in 10 days, said Barnett, which most likely wouldn’t be enough time to have legal and staff negotiate a new contract, though he said he would try.

“I do have a concern with the number that we were given of $800,000 by council member Marc McKinney. My question to you is, how did you get that number,” asked Flores-Cale. “I’ve had people reach out to me concerned that we’re defunding the police. So, I need to ensure that people understand the information that you provided to us because we could have said yes at the time. We could have approved $800,000, if this were a different council that could have passed. I think it’s important that when we bring these numbers to council that they’re accurate … I think that’s reasonable, but we can move on.”

Flores-Cale motioned to approve $400,000 to “make [KPD] whole,” consisting of the $240,981 and $157,764 presented. The item passed 7-0.

Additionally, the budget and amendments for two part-time library positions, drainage improvements for Moreno Street and CR 158 acceleration and deceleration lane improvements, as well as the revenue neutral Kyle Vista Park improvements, passed 7-0.

Flock Safety

After the votes, Zapata motioned to cancel through non-appropriations the 2024-25 Flock Safety contract at a total of $381,000 per year, with no legal fees or liability. Flores-Cale seconded for discussion.

“The 2024 and 2025 contracts in total together fund 47 flock cameras,” began Zapata. “A majority of those are going to be [automatic license plate readers (ALPRs)]. There are some [pan-tilt-zoom] cameras in there, as well, and two drones that come at a cost of around $782,000 each. We do not own this equipment. We rent this equipment. So, at the end of these terms, if we never renew our contract, we don't own this. We return it back to Flock. There has [also] been a statewide pause. Governor [Greg] Abbott asked for state agencies to stop funding Flock cameras and in particular, I did receive clarification that it is specific to ALPRs.”

She also noted that the city has applied for grant funding, though since 2023, has not received any money from the state, making the systems entirely funded through taxpayers. The security concerns that have been brought up over the past year were repeated by Zapata.

In response to questions from Flores-Cale, Barnett shared that there have been zero complaints filed against KPD for the misuse of Flock and that KPD was one of the first agencies to have a prohibition on searches within their system, both from within the organization or elsewhere. They also advocated for additional requirements within Flock to require a case number to reflect an official investigation from a law enforcement officer, said the chief.

Additionally, he stated that the department has submitted for grant reimbursement for 2025 and they expect to receive this, though they cannot submit for 2026 until 2025 is processed.

“I do want to state that I'm torn because I hear the residents — some of them want them, some of them don't. I want to respect our residents’ privacy, but I also have a duty to protect our residents. So, when we're asked to remove something like Flock, it's difficult because what do we use instead of it? It can't be just take[n] away and then, we're going to be a safer city. We've never had a problem or a complaint or a misuse in our city. It makes it difficult for me to just say, ‘Yeah, these cameras placed on public property are invading people's private privacy,’ when you're not in a private place … We have a lot of things that do invade our privacy. For me, this is about safety,” emphasized Flores-Cale. “What if we just put it on a ballot … That’s how we get the feedback from residents. I think we can put this on hold; we can just keep it as is, put it on a referendum and then, that’s when we take action because this is such a divisive issue.”

The time needed to put this together for November would be nearly impossible, said city attorney Aimee Alcorn-Reed, though it could be ready for the May 2027 election.

A motion to have staff bring back options to have Flock Safety on the May 2027 ballot passed 7-0.

Tax Rate

The tax rate is expected to decrease by $0.0357, for a total of $0.5600, consisting of $0.3687 for maintenance and operations and $0.1913 for interest and sinking. According to the presentation, the average homeowner, with a home value of $301,530, will pay $1,688.57 in taxes or $1,464.57 after the homestead reduction.

Council approved the tax rate at $0.5600 6-1, with council member Melisa Medina dissenting, as she wanted the lower tax rate of $0.5340.

“I couldn’t consciously vote for the $0.5600 when most of my constituents have been asking me for the $0.5340 because that makes a bigger change in their taxes that they have to pay as so long as we’re not crazily approving amendments to our budget, we could afford to go with that lower tax rate,” she explained.

This was council’s first of two public hearings and readings for the budget and tax rate. The second will occur Tuesday, Sept. 15.

To listen to the full discussion, visit bit.ly/4yobelt.

Founded in 2025 by Kyle firefighter Trent McCarty, alongside other first responders, the Maltese Mission was built on the core values of service, integrity and community. The organization has a shared commitment to help support firefighters within the Kyle Fire Department, but also surrounding agencies, their families and the communities they protect.

This is done through hosting charitable events and fundraisers, with the most recent being the Beat the Heat 5K/5K Bunked Out Relay, held Saturday, Aug. 22,  which raised $2,500 for the Maltese Mission.

The organization will also be partnering with the department again to host a haunted house at Station 1 in October, as well as help with the toy drive for Blue Santa during the upcoming holiday season.

Being a first responder on the front lines is “all about brotherhood,” shared McCarty, who has been serving with KFD since December 2018, so the Maltese Mission helps unite and aid that community.

“Whenever you're getting into this profession, you realize very fast that the world's a lot bigger than yourself,” he emphasized. “We find that a lot with our brothers around us, whenever we see them in need. It's not just solely with the fire service. It's with first responders in general. We're all here for each other.”

While the nonprofit is fairly new, the team is already looking ahead for the future of the Maltese Mission. Knowing that it’s vital to continue honing their skills, McCarty said that they want to collect donations through its website specifically for firefighters to attend trainings that otherwise, they may not be able to.

“Another big thing that we're trying to do with this nonprofit is help support firefighters that want to go to trainings that their department, for one, might not be able to afford or just might not be able to. They're already sending multiple people to this training, so they're not able to send anybody to it,” McCarty said. “So, through our website, we're wanting to have an application link and have firefighters around Texas, really, that if they find a training that they like, they can submit an application through our multi-dimensional website and if we have the funds, we can help fund their trainings. Then, also through that website, we can have some links to different trainings that we know about and that we're partnered with.”

The best way to support the Maltese Mission is by supporting financially or spreading the word of what the nonprofit is doing, according to McCarty.

“Any support helps. We are a growing nonprofit and we're wanting to make a big difference. We are not just limited to the fire service,” he concluded. “We want to help really anybody around that needs help, any first responder around that needs help.”

Learn more about the nonprofit at www.themaltesemission.squarespace.com.

Rick Klatt, associate vice president of Lochner, which manages the road bond programs, began his presentation by sharing the specific language from the ballot when the 2022 road bond was approved, which read, “The issuance of bonds in the amount of $294,000,000 for streets, bridges, and sidewalks and the levying of a tax in payment thereof.”

“It did not necessarily specifically mention a Vybe Trail,” Klatt pointed out.

The project in question is split into two segments:

Center Street Off-System — From Old Stagecoach Road to Veterans Drive. This is the portion of the road that is locally owned and locally maintained by the city.

Center Street On-System — From Veterans Drive to Main Street. This is the part of the road that is state-owned and maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

For the off-system portion, the proposed plan includes a three-lane roadway configuration, with a 12-foot Vybe Trail on the north side and a 6-foot sidewalk on the south side. This plan also requires utilities to be relocated from overhead to underground.

The initial budget for the off-system project, according to Klatt, was $12.3 million. Currently, the projected cost is approximately $29 million, leaving this portion of the plan over budget by $16.7 million.

“So, obviously, we have other projects where we may be coming in less than we planned, [but] this is certainly one of those that we’re coming in significantly more than what the initial cost estimates were,” said Klatt.

Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale then asked where the overruns are coming from, to which Klatt replied that undergrounding the utilities was factored in the initial cost, “but not to the degree it should have been.”

Klatt proposed a revised plan, which would maintain the three-lane roadway, but decrease the 12-foot Vybe Trail on the north side to a 6-foot sidewalk. In addition to helping with drainage efficiency, the proposed plan eliminates the need for undergrounding the utilities. This would result in $5,457,660 in cost savings, including: $614,000 by reducing trail to sidewalk; $4,766,000 by maintaining utilities overhead; and $77,660 in rights-of-way/easements. However, this plan would result in an additional $45,000 in design costs.

Moving on to the on-system portion of the project, Klatt outlined the currently proposed plan, which includes widening the roadway to a three-lane configuration, adding a traffic signal at the intersection of Veterans Drive and Center Street, a 12-foot Vybe Trail on the north side, a 6-foot sidewalk on the south side and moving the overhead utilities underground.

The original budget for this plan was $10.2 million, while the current projected estimate is $12 million, leaving it over budget by $1.8 million.

In addition to drainage impacts, due to increased impervious cover, parking is impacted within the on-system concept, as parking spaces on Center Street between Sledge Street and Nance Street would need to be removed, as well as spots within 100 feet of Burleson Drive. The parking will be removed whether it is a 6-foot or 12-foot path, Klatt said.

As with the off-system project, revising the plan to reduce the 12-foot trail to a 6-foot sidewalk would also result in cost savings:

Reduce trail to sidewalk: $423,000

Maintaining utilities overhead: $2,010,000

Rights-of-way/Easements: $3,060

This plan would have an additional $35,000 in design costs.

Flores-Cale paused to ask if the current plan provides connection from the east side of IH-35 to the west side via Center Street, to which assistant city manager Amber Schmeits confirmed that there is no east-west connection there, but rather that the trail would turn down Burleson Road and eventually cross under IH-35 near the end of Burleson.

“So, I just wanted to clarify because east-west connection is important to me,” the mayor said. “I live on the east and I would love to have something that people can go back and forth on a straight route, but this is not going to be that; even if we move forward with this, that’s not going to connect both sides.”

Some residents were also concerned about the Vybe Trial continuation and shared their thoughts during public comment.

“The Vybe Trail wasn’t designed as a patchwork of disconnected paths and standard sidewalks. It was designed as a multimodal network that connects neighborhoods, parks, schools, businesses and community spaces,” said resident Emily Sorenson. “In Kyle, the Center Street segment is especially important because it serves as the connection through downtown and it links different parts of the city together, while also creating the kind of environment that supports the parks and the restaurants and the events and the local businesses … I’m asking you to please not make a short-term budget decision that permanently compromises a long-term vision.”

Resident Josh Keller spoke in favor of the Vybe Trail, but recognized the challenges.

“So, I know that the 12-foot trail creates problems and I think just talking about those openly is really important. I know it creates problems with parking spaces and people’s private land and those are serious concerns,” he said. “I do think there’s enough smart people in this room and in this community that we can work together to solve that problem. So, what I’d like to propose instead of a 6-foot trail, is forming a Vybe committee full of a lot of people here and probably a lot of people watching that are interested in talking to everyone that’s affected and working together to solve the problems because I’d love to see the 12-foot concrete Vybe Trail instead of dividing people, bring people together.”

Timothy Kay, whose family lives on Center Street, expressed concerns about safety on the trail, stating that while the 12-foot trail is a nice idea, it is not something that should be present in the middle of a rapidly growing city. Furthermore, allowing space for golf carts would bring legal liability, he said.

Council member Claudia Zapata emphasized that, “ … it’s also important to understand that these are the plans as of now, but what we’re doing right now is actually being able to kind of re-envision that. So, if we want to prioritize east to west side connectivity, this is the moment to be able to do that without shooting down the entire project itself.”

Following Klatt’s presentation, the floor was open for council questions and feedback.

Expressing support for undergrounding the utilities was council member Lauralee Harris. She stated that, for safety and reliability, all utilities should be moved to underground on any roads built or reconfigured.

Harris continued, stating that using a 6-foot sidewalk is “ridiculous” and that the Vybe Trail will enhance the ability to have successful businesses in the area.

Council member Melisa Medina questioned if there is an option for a 10-foot trail, while keeping the utilities above ground, to which Klatt replied that they would still have to underground the utilities for any size over 6 feet.

“We have to talk dollars,” Flores-Cale stated. “If we do $19 million over here, [making us] short, then where are we going to make up for it on the other part of the road bond? Because the money is not just going to keep coming at us; we don’t have infinite money. So, I think as a council, we need to really think about [that]. Yes, we do want to build a Vybe, but what does responsible growth look like? Does it mean that we just say yes to everything right now? My theory has always been, ‘You can have it right or you can have it right now, but you can’t have both.’”

“I’m just thinking this is a tough situation. We all have wants and desires and I was the one who approved this; I was the one who talked about it during the 2022 road bond,” the mayor continued. “I was adamantly against the language of the road bond because it didn’t give enough details. It was rushed; it’s not detailed; it doesn’t make sense. And now here we sit years later and I’m dealing with the consequences of actions of people that I disagreed with.”

Zapata disputed the fact that residents were not knowledgeable about the bond and what it included: “I think we’ve seen a lot of resident engagement, a lot of resident opinion and a lot of resident feedback as we have considered how to build this thing out.”

She went on to say that the funding mechanism also matters and claimed that the cost of the road bond doesn’t come from the general fund, which interim city manager Perwez Moheet clarified is not the case: “Any dollar we spend on the road bond project or program, the impact is on the general fund. The taxpayers of Kyle will pay back the debt that we will incur,” said Moheet.

Council member Marc McKinney expressed frustration in the delay of revitalizing downtown, emphasizing that this is important to him.

In response, Flores-Cale questioned if McKinney would be okay with roads on the east side of IH-35 not being completed in order to complete the Vybe Trail.

“I feel like with the timeframe that we’re on, we can take whatever portion hasn’t been completed and add it to whatever next road bond that we’re talking about doing in potentially 2028 and not even miss a beat; That way we can still get it all done, obviously, assuming that the bond passes,” McKinney responded. “But, yes, I feel like the downtown area has to take priority.”

“I think I’m just a little confused about why wouldn’t we be able to complete the other two roads? Is it because of lack of funds,” questioned Zapata. “Because we just had a discussion about us being able to authorize funds in order to be able to fund those things. So, couldn’t we just authorize the funding necessary to complete those roads?”

Moheet then explained that voters authorized $294 million for the road bond and, if the city cannot complete all of the projects listed, it cannot add to this funding mechanism, but would instead have to go back to the voters to approve additional funds or find non-voter approved bonds to complete the projects. Either way, more debt would have to be issued, he said.

After some more back and forth, council member Michael Tobias tried to reign in the conversation.

“Nobody up here is saying that the Vybe is not important … Nobody's disregarding your comment Marc about the downtown renovations. As someone who’s lived here 50 years of my life, you don’t have to tell me where our downtown’s been,” he said. “What it comes down to is the money, ladies and gentleman, and also some people are going to look at this as the equality of it, as well. As much as we hate to use the east versus west, but that is just what it is.”

Tobias continued by highlighting that people in East Kyle have been waiting 50 years to get the roads done.

“West side of town, you guys got crosswalks, you got streetlights, you got sidewalks. I don’t have any of that by Lehman,” he stated. “My kids from Lehman are walking in the mud all the way home … So, as much as I hear the heartstrings that go on about, ‘I want to have a sidewalk,’ I ain’t got jack over there on my side of town.”

At this point, Perwez laid out the three options for council:

Option 1: Approve the interim city manager to proceed as originally planned and exceed the budget by $19 million.

Option 2: Decrease from 12-foot Vybe Trail to 6-foot sidewalk and authorize exceeding budget by $11 million.

Option 3: Pause until: Texas Historical Commission has reviewed the plan, Vybe Trail Ordinance has been reviewed and the Sept. 10 meeting occurs, where the current status of the whole bond project and Vybe Trail project will be laid out.

Flores-Cale motioned to approve option 3, with a second from council member Courtney Goza. The motion passed 7-0.

To listen to the full discussion, visit bit.ly/4zK4HD7.

Budget amendments

Assistant director of Finance Holly Holt-Torres began the amendment portion of the meeting by first sharing the six budget amendments staff is currently working on in fiscal year 2025-26, four of which have already been approved. These include: $100,000 to Public Utility Commission (PUC) water/wastewater rate appeals; $149,500 for rate case support/ cost of services study for Raftelis; $114,600 for the Marketplace waterline project; and $298,773.03 for increased Wastewater Treatment Plant solids volume. Pending amendments include $52,000 for road bond vendor/contract investigation and $100,000 for continued PUC rate appeal legal services.

The total impact for all six is approximately $1,014,873.03, said Holt-Torres.

“It is important to understand how those additional appropriations affect the fund balances that were previously presented to council as part of the interim city manager’s recommended proposed 2026-27 budget,” she continued, explaining that money is being pulled from each of the funds. “When council approves an additional expenditure in the current fiscal year, council is also changing the financial starting point that carries into next year’s budget.”

These six approvals affect the estimated end fund balances as follows:

General fund

• Before: $20,369,970

• After: $20,317,970

Water Utility Fund

• Before: $23,956,417

• After: $23,781,667

Wastewater Utility Fund

• Before: $22,857,434

• After: $22,383,910.97

Water Impact Fee Fund:

• Before: $162,426

• After: $0

“The primary takeaway for council this evening is that fiscal year 2025-26 budget decisions do not end on Sept. 30,” she said. “Should additional amendments be approved between now and the fiscal year end, finance will continue to incorporate those impacts, so that the beginning and ending fund balance estimates presented for the fiscal year 2026-27 reflect the most current information.”

Mayor Yvonne Flores-Cale motioned to approve the six amendments as presented, with a second by council member Melisa Medina. The item passed 7-0.

Next, each council member was able to present proposed budget amendments.

The first amendment was made by council member Michael Tobias, who stated it was “revenue neutral. In other words, I’m not taking any funds from the reserves or reducing other budget items.” He requested the settlement funds  — $1,886,545.60 — from the 6 Creeks development that were reserved for Kyle Vista Park at the Aug. 18 council meeting be added to the Capital Improvement Plan.

“I appreciate you bringing that as a budget amendment. I voted against that measure in conjunction with the 6 Creeks agreement because I felt that it was not germane and that it should have been brought as a budget item. So, thank you for bringing that back at the appropriate time,” said council member Lauralee Harris.

The motion passed 7-0.

In an effort to prevent the Kyle Public Library from reducing its services and hours, council member Claudia Zapata proposed a $57,058 amendment to the budget to fund two part-time circulation assistant positions.

“If we are able to have additional people, we will not reduce the hours. This comes from a combination of those evening [and] weekend hours, where we really feel the crunch,” said Leslie Scott, library director. “We do utilize volunteers. I think we had a dozen this summer [and] we have eight more returning back, but what it has to do with is they cannot accept funds. So, anyone that’s going to make a payment, they cannot be inside of patron records. They can shelve … and then, also being another presence, but when it comes to things like programming, especially for children, we need two city employees in there.”

The item passed 5-2, with council members Courtney Goza and Medina dissenting.

Zapta also motioned to have $600,000 for Moreno Street drainage, which she stated had issues first identified in 2015. So, residents have been waiting more than a decade for a resolution.

According to city engineer Leon Barba, the money would go toward engineering studies. This would allow city staff to prepare for future funding, once they are aware of what is needed and the potential costs.

The motion passed 7-0.

Zapata also asked to add the necessary amount of funds to reach the $500,000 necessary for the CR 158 deceleration lane in FY 2028. It passed 5-2, with Goza and Medina dissenting. Goza stated that this is a county road, so she is unsure of why the city is spending money to improve it.

“I’d like to make a motion that in the new budget, we include a 3% raise for our non-sworn employees. I think they take on a huge burden. We’ve reduced staff and to tell them they get no raises in the coming year, I think is unfair to them,” said Harris, adding that it would cost $1.5 million and is “totally appropriate and is within our budget capacity.”

Council member Marc McKinney praised Harris for bringing this forward, as he agrees, though he mentioned that there have been Kyle Police Department staff that has reached out to him concerned with budget cuts to the agency. Because of this, he wanted to suggest a 2% raise and, instead, put $800,000 toward maintaining the fleet of patrol cars and restoring $150,000 for annual training.

“So, council member, this is news to me that we have eliminated or reduced their fleet budget,” said interim city manager Perwez Moheet. “You think your executive team here would allow that?”

He clarified that there was a 10% reduction in line item budgets for every city department, sharing that KPD Chief Jeff Barnett “volunteered to come up with $330,000” in savings, in an effort to offset the potential 10% salary reduction.

Barnett’s reduction identified seven wrecked leased vehicles that were sitting in the parking lot that would not be given replacements, said Moheet. In the $22 million budget, the interim city manager noted that the chief could have found the $330,000 reduction “anywhere he wishes … to avoid the 10% salary reduction. It’s not fair for me to go back to other departments and dip into their budget to make up what he doesn’t think he can deliver after he made that assurance.”

Harris returned the conversation to her initial motion, to which the mayor noted that, sometimes, employees don’t get a raise: “It’s not personal,” she said, emphasizing that, if council passed this, there would only be $1 million left before the city went into a deficit again.

Instead, Zapata suggested completing a one-time “rest and recognition” payment of $1,800.

Because of the hesitation and varying avenues, Harris opted to table her motion until Holt-Torres could bring back options at a later meeting, which passed 7-0.

“I thought when we were bringing budget amendments forward that they were supposed to be revenue neutral,” said Goza. “When you are spending basically all of the cushion above [the reserves], you have nowhere else to go other than into your reserves or you’re going to have to do an emergency cut spending again.”

Continuing on this topic, McKinney questioned why Kyle does not have an emergency fund. Moheet explained that there used to be one, but it was consolidated into the general fund, though it is a policy decision, so it could be brought forward by council to create one.

The mayor’s amendment didn’t have to do with funding, but rather vacation time, as she wanted to offer the KPD employee who acts as The Grinch some time off during the holidays, since he works so often. Moheet stated that KPD has its own rules, but they will bring back information to see how a Grinch allowance would work.

“I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t make this next amendment,” said Zapata as she motioned to reduce the city’s Flock Safety contracts by $432,000 and take the action necessary to terminate the contracts in FY 2027.

Because there was no second, the item failed.

Tax rate

Moheet noted that council needed to provide direction on which maximum tax rate they preferred, as previously presented: voter-approval tax rate at $0.5650, tax rate option one of $0.5600 or tax rate option two at $0.5340.

The average resident home is valued at $301,530, which is a decrease of approximately 5% from last year. So, for option #1, an average resident would pay $1,688.57 or, with the homestead reduction, $1,464,57. This is a 11.44% reduction.

For option #2, an average homeowner would pay $1,610.17 or $1,396.57, after the homestead reduction — a decrease of 15.55%.

All three options are lower than the current tax rate, which sits at $0.5957.

Medina stated that residents reached out to her and shared their enthusiasm on lower tax bills, especially as the county tax rate is currently unknown. So, she advocated for option two, which would be $0.5340 per $100 valuation.

The tax rate can still be lowered, even after this approval, noted Flores-Cale.

Council approved the $0.5600 per $100 valuation maximum tax rate 5-2, with Goza and Medina dissenting.

The first of two tax rate and budget hearings and adoptions will occur Saturday, Sept. 5, followed by the final readings Tuesday, Sept. 15.

To listen to the discussion, visit bit.ly/4qGlYce.

This follows a dismissal in 2024 for “further investigation,” as previously reported by the Hays Free Press. 

Simon was originally charged with capital murder after the Kyle Police Department responded to a call for a welfare check  on Sledge Street after 45-year-old James Wright’s father had failed to contact his son for multiple days. Upon arriving, a foul smell was noted. Officers were able to enter the home, where they discovered the deceased bodies of Wright and Tina Combs, 44, who both suffered gunshot and knife wounds.

During the investigation, Simon, who allegedly had a black eye, arrived on scene, stating that he was a friend of Wright and was coming to check on him. Several interviews and investigations led police to believe that Simon was dishonest on his whereabouts during the homicide, as well as the admission that items of Wright's had been pawned.

“Simon also stated to [the officer] that since [they] have been talking, he started wondering if he did do ‘this’ [murdering Wright and Combs],” read the affidavit.

According to KPD, Simon was arrested in Bedford County, Tenn. in connection with the homicides. 

"I want to commend our detectives for the work they have put into this case over the years," said KPD Chief Jeff Barnett. “This arrest reflects their commitment to justice and we hope it provides a meaningful measure of closure for the victims' families."

Simon is being held in the Bedford County Jail pending extradition to Hays County, where he will face the charge and await trial. . 

The business was founded in 2008 in Alabama and has since opened locations throughout the nation. Visitors have several chicken salads to choose from, including Fancy Nancy, which features apples, grapes and pecans, Sassy Scotty for a bacon cheddar ranch taste and more.

An item to accept the discussion points and term sheet, as negotiated by the 6 Creeks developers and interim city manager Perwez Moheet, was brought forward at the Tuesday, Aug. 18, Kyle City Council meeting, following council direction at the May 19 meeting “to resolve outstanding contractual issues,” according to agenda documents.

The process, said Moheet, consisted of obtaining the city attorney’s written legal assessment of the contractual issues and Moheet personally dedicating time to understand the 6 Creeks developers’ position, as well as providing repeated assurances that the city wanted to amicably resolve the outstanding issues. They then collaborated on an approach for resolution that would support the best interests of both sides, while providing the framework to move forward as partners.

The 15 discussion points for the term sheets were as follows:

• All items were considered for discussion purposes and remain subject to council approval.

• The city would agree to move forward with rescinding the notification letter dated Jan. 20, 2026, invalidating the development agreement (DA).

• 6 Creeks developers will pay $1,200,000 from the public improvement district (PID) bond process, which can then be used in any way to benefit the public that the council chooses.

• 6 Creek developers will dedicate all right-of-way for Old Stagecoach Road for the reconstruction under the 2022 Road Bond Program.

• The initial $1,500,000 owed to the city by 6 Creeks has been fully paid.

• 6 Creeks developers agree to pay $686,545.60 owed for the city allocation for PID areas 1A-1 through 1A-5. Additionally, the city can use all payments of city allocation for any public purpose that council chooses.

• 6 Creeks will pay the $685,545.60 owed within 10 business days of the execution of the second amendment to the DA.

• Any city allocation will be characterized as a 10% community benefit fee. The current restrictions that limit the use of these payments to fund specific projects that directly complement the 6 Creeks development will be removed and funds can instead be used for any public purpose as determined by council.

• The city agrees to clarify that residents of the 6 Creeks development will receive the same water and wastewater service rates and impact and other fees as applied to all water and wastewater utility customers located within the incorporated limits of the city.

• The city and 6 Creeks developers agree that at the time of any bond sale, the bond principal may exceed a 3:1 value to lien ratio, based on the value in the improvement area as of the date of the sale. If the proceeds exceed the value, they will not be available until the value in the applicable improvement area supports the aforementioned lien ratio. Until then, no 10% community benefit fee will be due.

• 6 Creeks will be allowed to determine the appropriate number of PID areas, based on the market and configuration of future development areas.

• 6 Creeks agrees that the city is not required to build any additional park improvements.

• The city and 6 Creeks agree that upon final completion of the development, the city and developers will perform a final reconciliation of all bond proceeds accounts and determine any unused funds. If there are, the funds will be applied against the debt service for the PID bonds.

• Next steps include city council discussion and approval for the second amendment to the DA at the Sept. 15 meeting.

• No additional discussion points and term sheets.

“It is my recommendation that the city council consider and approve the discussion points and the term sheets that … I just now walked you through, each one of those 15 items,” said Moheet.

Council member Melisa Medina noted that the terms to bring in-city water rates to the 6 Creeks residents was done prior to budget presentation Aug. 1. So, she wondered if these new numbers were configured into the proposed budget or if they will now be affected, since revenue rates will change.

He did consider this, said Moheet, but, there is enough of a fund balance to absorb the difference, if council approved this.

“I ask because, for months, prior to May, when you took over, some of us have tried having discussions to at least give temporary reprieve to the [extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ)] customers for their rates and were receiving push back after push back after push back that we couldn’t move forward with any of those agenda items … [because] if we did something to lower their rates, we would have to raise in-city rates,” explained Medina. “So, just for everyone at home to hear again, if we bring their rates back down, no one’s suffering the consequences.”

Asking for more clarification on how there will be no impacts was council member Claudia Zapata, who stated that she will be voting for the change, but wants to ensure that there are safety nets established for low-income utility customers, in an effort to reduce the possibility for in-city rates to rise dramatically in the future.

“I can give you this assurance tonight: If I’m standing here this time next year, we will have some form of lifeline rates. That will give our senior citizens, our fixed income people, within their minimum monthly cost, some gallons that they do not get charged. We will recoup that cost from the higher-end users,” said Moheet.

Council member Michael Tobias noted that “it’s been a long time coming” for the residents of 6 Creeks, with many showing up to council meetings over the past year to defend themselves against the 77% water rate increase that occurred for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Although celebrating for 6 Creeks residents, council member Courtney Goza brought forward concerns for other ETJ customers, who are still dealing with these rates. So, she looks forward to Moheet’s solutions in the future.

The rate change would occur for the first bill in the new fiscal year, beginning Oct. 1, if approved.

In a motion to accept the term sheets and bring back the item for council approval at the Sept. 15 meeting, Tobias also directed the interim city manager to negotiate a solution with two residents that filed a rate dispute and place the settlement funds paid by 6 Creeks in a separate account dedicated for the new Kyle Vista Park.

His reasoning, agreed upon by Medina, was that the residents on the east side, specifically in Kyle Vista, have been waiting for 20 years for this park.

Both Zapata and council member Lauralee Harris were hesitant on the park funding, as they didn’t want any restrictions for the $1.8 million the city would gain, with Zapata suggesting working on a project, such as Post Oak Road.

“It’s amazing how now people are starting to notice the east side all of a sudden, that they have potholes and things like that. We’ve been having that for many years … I got stop signs that are falling down, potholes. Those items are truly needed, but that’s where I believe we develop a better [capital improvement plan (CIP)] to where we can get a lot of these roads redone,” said Tobias. “Now, [we] have the opportunity for us to be able to use this funding to be able to jumpstart what the city should have done 20 years ago.”

The question was called to stop discussion, passing 7-0, requiring council to vote on Tobias’ earlier motion.

“You’ve put us in a difficult position,” said Harris. “As much as I dislike doing this, I believe that the motion as it stands does not relate to the 6 Creeks development, which is what was on the agenda. I am going to have to say no.”

The motion passed 5-2, with an eruption of applause from the crowd. Harris and council member Marc McKinney dissented.

To listen to the full discussion, visit bit.ly/4bWIYOb.

Kyle resident Jose Reyes earned the first-place finish with a time of 18:44.488.