This is the ninth West Nile Virus-positive mosquito pool collected through the Hays County Mosquito Surveillance Program during the 2026 season. Statewide, DSHS reported 1,273 positive mosquito pools in 2026.

“This positive mosquito pool is an important reminder for Wimberley residents to stay vigilant as we move through the remainder of mosquito season,” Precinct 3 commissioner Morgan Hammer said. “Simple steps like eliminating standing water around your home and using insect repellent when spending time outdoors can make a meaningful difference. I appreciate the continued work of our Development Services team to monitor mosquito activity and keep our communities informed.”

HCDS conducts mosquito surveillance from May through November to monitor mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases. HCDS collects mosquitoes using standardized traps and sends them to DSHS for identification and arboviral testing. This surveillance helps HCDS track mosquito activity, identify breeding areas and guide prevention and control efforts.

The best way to prevent WNV is to reduce mosquito populations where people live, work and play. Residents can reduce their risk of mosquito bites and West Nile Virus infection by following the three Ds: Defend, Dress and Drain.

• DEFEND: Whenever outside, use EPA-approved repellents and always follow label instructions. 

• DRESS: Wear long, loose and light-colored clothing outside. 

• DRAIN: Drain or treat all standing water in and around your home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs. 

“Mosquito-borne illness is a shared public health concern and prevention starts with each of us,” Hays County Judge and director of Emergency Management Ruben Becerra said. “We encourage residents throughout Hays County to make the three Ds — Defend, Dress and Drain — part of their routine. By taking a few simple precautions and looking out for one another, we can help reduce the risk of West Nile Virus in our community.”

Infected mosquitoes can transmit West Nile Virus through bites. Eighty percent of infected people have no symptoms, while about 20% may develop fever, headache, body aches, rash or other flu-like symptoms. Adults aged 50 and older and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention. There is currently no treatment for West Nile Virus. For more information on human risk, visit the Hays County Health Department's Epidemiology & Disease Prevention website.

For more information regarding mosquito surveillance, visit the Hays County Development Services website or call (512) 393-2150. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information on the West Nile Virus. 

A longtime marketing and public relations professional and co-founder of Marsh & Mihaly Marketing, Marsh brings more than 35 years of experience in communications, community relations, branding and nonprofit promotion, according to a news release. In her new role, she will work alongside the WCCC Board of Directors to enhance awareness of the organization's programs, events, fundraising efforts and community impact.

Founded in 1979 by a group of twelve women who recognized the growing needs of the Wimberley community, the Wimberley Community Civic Club was established to nurture community spirit, support local causes and welcome newcomers. What began as a small service organization, continued the release, has grown into a vibrant membership of approximately 200 individuals dedicated to making a difference in the Wimberley Valley.

In 2025-26, WCCC awarded $115,000 in grants and scholarships to local nonprofits and Wimberley students pursuing post-secondary education. These funds were raised by a 100% volunteer organization to put back into the community.

Through signature events, such as the Hill Country Home Tour, Style Show & Market, Breakfast with Santa, Events Around Town, Tablescapes and various spring fundraising activities, WCCC members contribute countless volunteer hours, while raising funds that benefit local nonprofit organizations and college-bound seniors.

"I am honored to serve as publicity chair and help share the incredible stories behind the Wimberley Community Civic Club," said Marsh. "For more than four decades, this organization has been bringing people together to support our community through service, friendship and philanthropy. I look forward to helping expand awareness of the club's mission and encouraging others to get involved."

As publicity chair, Marsh will focus on strengthening communications, expanding community outreach, enhancing social media and public relations efforts and supporting the club's ongoing mission of connecting residents through meaningful service and charitable giving.

The Wimberley Community Civic Club welcomes new members and volunteers who are interested in making a positive impact in the community, while building lasting friendships.

For more information about the Wimberley Community Civic Club, upcoming events, membership opportunities or volunteer involvement, visit www.WimberleyCCC.org.

Recalling the moment her world changed, Coleé said she knew something was wrong when ordinary sounds disappeared — the water running, toilet flushing and familiar background noise of everyday life — one morning.

At first, she wasn't alarmed. She had been battling allergies and infections in both ears and ear problems weren't new to her. Years spent singing in front of orchestras and big bands had already contributed to mild hearing loss.

She expected her ears to heal, but they didn't.

Afterwards, Coleé initially tried to keep anyone from knowing.

She continued coaching voice students by concentrating intensely on what she could see rather than what she could hear. For voice-over work, she relied on the sound waves displayed on her computer screen to guide her editing.

“I guess it worked because no one ever caught on that a deaf voice teacher and voice-over actress was seat-of-the-pants winging it,” she said.

Some clients later told her they were amazed by the quality of the work she produced during that period.

“I think I worked six times as hard to make sure my standards never slipped,” Coleé said, but behind the performance was fear.

After an initial visit to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist failed to resolve the problem, Coleé sought another opinion. A hearing test confirmed the extent of the loss and another ENT ordered a magnetic resonance imaging and a computed tomography scan.

The results brought another shock: Coleé had a brain aneurysm.

She cried in the doctor's office.

The aneurysm had damaged her left ear and nerves associated with hearing, she said, with the doctors noting that it may have been there for years. When her neurosurgeon showed her the small white spot on a screen, Coleé asked whether it was a boy or a girl. The doctor laughed and although the humor was real, so was the terror.

“I never dwelled on the aneurysm,” Coleé said. “I was terrified the rest of my life would be lived in silence.”

They also told her that removing it may impose a significant risk, so Coleé did what performers often do when reality becomes unbearable: She gave it a name — Annie Aneurysm.

Research eventually led her to cochlear implant surgery. Before the procedure, Coleé gathered close friends and family and listened as best she could to every song she had recorded during her career. It was, in some ways, a farewell.

“Everyone knew I was bidding farewell to the singer I was,” she said.

She wasn't, however, saying goodbye to being a performer.

Two days after cochlear implant surgery, despite severe vertigo, nausea and a bandaged head, Coleé had an audition. Unable to safely stand for much of the day, she stayed on the floor until it was time to get ready. She made it to the bathroom, put on makeup and a bathrobe and recorded the audition on her second take.

Her agent laughed when she saw it.

The project was ultimately canceled, but for Coleé, the audition demonstrated something more important: “I still saw myself as a performer.”

Although her hearing was able to be “recovered” through the cochlear implant, it did not restore what she once heard. Instead, Coleé had to teach her brain how to interpret an entirely different version of sound. For example, human speech, she said, doesn't sound human.

“I hear an alien in my head,” Coleé said.

She described it as static with an electronic voice emerging through it. Words came first, then occasional phrases. Depending on the acoustics of a room, complete sentences can still be difficult.

Music remains largely inaccessible. She can experience rhythm, but the technology does not reproduce singing and instruments in a way she recognizes as the music she once knew.

The adjustment requires patience.But so does accepting that some chapters are finished, she said.

Coleé eventually released her voice students, believing they deserved a teacher who could fully hear them. The decision brought financial worries along with the emotional loss, but, gradually, she began looking at her circumstances differently.

She couldn't be the singer she had been, nor could she be the 20- or 30-year-old version of herself she once was. What she could do was decide what came next.

“I can now be that quirky little grandma who bluntly tells you the truth about life,” she said.

This realization helped lead Coleé toward stand-up comedy and keynote speaking, including a program she calls “Mindset: The GPS of LIFE,” a three-step process focused on adapting to new circumstances while continuing to build a fulfilling life. Faith has also remained central to her recovery.

Coleé said she began recognizing that techniques she had spent years teaching students could be applied to her own trauma, grief and changed circumstances, which also exposed the gap between what people saw and what she was experiencing, as many called her brave, while, inside, she was anxious.

That contradiction became the foundation for “Are You Who You Say You Are?” a workshop series Coleé is bringing to Wimberley for people navigating unexpected transitions, self-doubt and the uncomfortable work of rebuilding a life when the old plan no longer applies.

Her workshops are designed for people facing their own disruptions — whether entering adulthood, losing a spouse, changing careers or struggling with self-doubt — with an emphasis on replacing the pursuit of outside approval with self-knowledge and service to others.

Bringing that message to Wimberley is also something of a homecoming.

Coleé has deep ties with the community through her work with the Wimberley Players and the students she coached over the years. She directed and performed in local productions, including a production of “1776” that she said opened the Playhouse on the Square.

Although she still considers herself a performer, Coleé said mentoring others may be closer to her true calling.

“It brings me enormous satisfaction to see my students thrive and be successful,” she said.

Despite entering a new era, her performing career hasn't disappeared. Coleé said she will be shooting a film in Austin. Television viewers may also recognize her from Season 29 of Food Network's “Worst Cooks in America.”

Now, she is experiencing a new normal built not around getting her old life back, but around making peace with the life she has now.

When asked what she would tell the woman who once gathered her family and friends to say goodbye to the singer she had been, Coleé returned to humor.

“Well, at least you don't have to memorize or remember song lyrics anymore,” she said, joking.

But behind the joke is the lesson she hopes to share in Wimberley: “I've come to terms with closing that chapter,” Coleé said. “I never want to be that person who lives in the past … Life is really good right now.”

The community workshop series, Are You Who You Say You Are?, will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20. The series will be held online and is free to attend. Attendees can register by emailing leecoleevo@gmail.com with their name, phone number and preferred date. After the initial event, the workshop will continue on the third Friday of each month.

Held at the Wimberley VFW, the rodeo honors Gunner Thames, a 15-year-old cowboy who passed away following a rodeo accident in 2011. What began in remembrance has grown into an annual tradition centered on community, youth and service.

Proceeds from the rodeo benefit the Gunner Thames Memorial Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening communities throughout Texas. The Foundation provides educational scholarships and financial assistance to students, while also supporting youth rodeo athletes, Texas 4-H members and Future Farmers of America projects in Hays County.

Its work extends beyond agriculture and rodeo. The foundation also provides financial assistance and resources to families facing crisis situations, offering support during some of their most difficult moments.

The annual Labor Day rodeo brings together competitors, families, volunteers and spectators around the traditions that were an important part of Gunner’s life. But its impact reaches well beyond the arena.

Through scholarships, youth programs and assistance to families in need, the event has helped transform the memory of one young cowboy into an enduring commitment to helping others.

For the Wimberley community, the Gunner Thames Memorial Rodeo is more than an annual gathering. It is a reminder of the strength of a community that continues to honor one of its own by investing in the next generation and lending a hand to neighbors when they need it most.

The plan, which was funded by a $300,000 General Land Office grant, is a 20-year master outlook for the community, as previously reported by the News-Dispatch.

According to agenda documents, the Planning & Zoning Commission reviewed the final draft at its August meeting and, following additional requests, voted 5-0 to recommend approval.

Council member Anne Ulfelder specifically questioned priority 8.2, ‘Foster Long-Term Wealth Creation.’

Under this priority, the identified efforts include:

• 8.2.1 Launch local entrepreneur micro-grant fund

• 8.2.2 Provide semi-annual financial literacy workshops

• 8.2.3 Support infrastructure investments for highway commercial areas

• 8.2.4 Promote gateway branding, signage and placemaking initiatives

“That’s really the only place I went, ‘Hmm,’” she said. “My question is just, in general, is that something we, as a very small city, actually feel we can do or should be doing?”

Kevin Coleman with Langford Community Management Services, which created the plan, explained that this portion is meant for the city to partner with the broader community and is not necessarily a city obligation.

“To some degree it’s ‘do no harm’ from the city’s point of view; do no harm to those efforts, but also to participate in those if they are community-led,” Coleman said.

Ulfelder did not request any changes but said she wanted to clarify the point.

The motion to approve the plan as presented passed 4-0.

Following the item, council went into executive session for the annual salary and performance review of city administrator Tim Patek. After returning to open session, they voted 4-0 to extend Patek’s contract for an additional year with a 5% pay increase.

To view the adopted comprehensive plan, visit www.langfordplanning.com/wimberley-rcp.

Wimberley City Council will meet next at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.

The broad strokes of The Celia Fund initially came in 2022, in honor of the life of Hudnall’s aunt, who, preceding her death, was known as a public educator for at least 30 years, avid gardener, relentlessly curious person and lifelong learner with a spirit to teach those around her.

“I really wanted to just honor her and her life, and her work and her spirit. The other reason is that the name itself, Celia, means ‘of heaven,’” Hudnall shared. “It just seemed like the perfect fit for the fund.”

The profession runs in Hudnall’s blood, as several other members of her family — including herself for 15 years — have worked in education. After a year of trying to juggle her own business and career, but then being faced with financial needs as a parent — even through multiple salary increases over the years — she left the profession in 2019.

While teachers could be making $65,000 per year, for example, and having the summers off, there are deductions that still come out of their paycheck, including the cost of health insurance — with increases if their children or spouses are on their plan — federal taxes and retirement, Hudnall emphasized. These impact the take-home pay for public educators.

Hudnall found that while there are online fundraisers for classroom supplies, or websites like Teachers Pay Teachers, where they can purchase lesson plans or suggestions for a small cost, there are limited options for just financial assistance.

“As much as they're appreciated, they don't really need another Starbucks gift card. They don't. Again, as much as it's appreciated, they don't need a massage. No, they need help, real financial assistance,” she said. “That was really where the beginnings of the idea came from and then, as I started to search [for] any kind of financial assistance that was targeted towards public educators; as far as I can tell, there is nothing out there. So, I thought, ‘Well, there's nothing out there, so what can I do to fill this gap? And so, it just kind of grew from there.’”

The founder is currently in the process of raising $75,000 for The Celia Fund to support the secure lending platform, organizational systems, launch preparation and first rounds of low-interest emergency loans.

Though grants are “certainly” a second goal for special causes, Hudnall said that she decided to focus on loans, due to the potential for growth and being able to help more people.

“The number of people that we could assist would simply be limited by the amount of money that we could fundraise, whereas, by creating a revolving loan fund, we raise the initial funds for that first round of loans,” she said.

The loans would need to be paid back; however, the goal is to have the interest rates remain well under 10%. Hudnall explained that this gives the teachers the option of not being forced to use an emergency credit card, where they are having to pay 20% or more interest.

Currently, the planned eligibility for the loans is for qualifying public educators and is expected to include currently-employed classroom teachers, counselors, librarians and other certified public-school educators who meet the program’s income and emergency criteria.

Hudnall said they are still in the process of determining eligibility specifics and qualifying emergencies, in addition to fundraising and having conversations with educators to gauge how this assistance would have helped them, before opening applications.

She is piloting the fund in Wimberley ISD, but is looking to quickly expand to the San Marcos, Dripping Springs, Hays and Blanco school districts.

For more information on The Celia Fund and learn how to make a donation, visit www.theceliafund.net.

Beginning with the proposed tax rate, Chief Financial Officer Michael Doyle explained that because local property value grew by 2.87%, the state provides a compression to the maximum compressed tax rate (MCR). This resulted in the maintenance and operations tax rate decreasing by $0.0023, from $0.7088 to $0.7065. The interest and sinking rate is holding at $0.3011, making the total tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year $1.0076, as compared to $1.0099 from the current year.

“If you approve a higher rate, that automatically triggers a voter-approval tax rate election. If you approve a rate lower than your voter-approval tax rate, you're actually subject to penalization and you don't collect the funding that you would actually need to operate at a full capacity,” warned Doyle.

He then moved on to the operating budget.

“Our assumed [average daily attendance (ADA)] rate for next year is 2,400, which is pretty right in line with where we finished. We've completed this past school year at 2,401. We've really looked at trends in the past. We don't want to overestimate our ADA and assume that we're going to have more students at the end of the year collecting for us than what we [do because] that will cause a deficit at the end of the day. So, this is a conservative rate, but it also matches trends and it also is based on a 95% assumed attendance rate, which is holding steady to years past or the last couple years,” said Doyle.

The total revenue projected for FY 2026-27 is $45,493,063, combining: $38,630,586 from local revenue; $6,190,983 from state revenue, $549,644 from federal revenue; and $121,850 from other sources.

“We report our budget based on function to the state and that is how the board has to adopt the budget. It's down at the function level. You can see, again, the categories [for the expenditures in] the funding, if you will: the general fund, food service fund, debt service fund and total amount of the proposed budget. Within our general fund, specifically, our total expenditures are budgeted at $31,578,232 … You can see our total [food service] expenditures are budgeted at $1,169,335,” said Doyle, though for child nutrition, the district will be in a deficit, due to increased food prices.

The debt service budget expenditures sit at $12,185,767, continued the CFO, stating that staff is looking into debt and determining if the district will have the opportunity to pay it off early. This would “save the community money” and allow the district to work on its fund balance, with the possibility of a refund in the future.

The total proposed expenditures are $44,933,334.

Both the budget for FY 2026-27 and a tax rate of $1.0076 passed unanimously.

The Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees will meet next Monday, Sept. 21.

Property owners who wish to operate an STR — properties used for transient lodging for stays of 30 consecutive days or less — must apply with the city through the current conditional use permit (CUP) process established in the zoning ordinance. This includes neighbor notifications and a public hearing before both the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) and city council, which ultimately makes the decision on the issuance of the permit, as previously reported by the News-Dispatch.

However, a review of the current process began when a committee was created last year to research the current STR situation in Wimberley and, at the same time, a temporary moratorium was enacted in November 2025 and extended multiple times on STR applications.

Now, an ordinance was brought forward to Wimberley City Council at its Aug. 20 meeting, based on recommendations by the committee, proposing the following changes to the STR regulations, according to a presentation by director of Development Services Nathan Glaiser.

•   Removing the ability for property owners to obtain an STR2, which is a non-owner occupied CUP, within the Single-Family Residential 2 (R-2) and Single-Family Residential 3 (R-3) zoning districts.

•   Make changes to allow STR1, which are occupied by the owner, within accessory dwelling units; this was previously limited to just the primary dwelling.

•   Allowing short-term lodging facilities with up to 30 units as a permitted use by right within the Commercial Low Impact (C-1), Commercial Moderate Impact (C-2) and Commercial High Impact (C-3) zoning districts.

“Also, if you have an existing conditional use permit, the way the ordinance is drafted is that the conditional use permit would still stay in effect, conditioned on the terms that it was originally granted,” Glaiser said.

This also follows a public hearing held at the Aug. 14 P&Z meeting, where the commission voted 5-0 to not recommend changing the draft ordinance as it pertains to the removal of STR2s in R-2 and R-3 zoning districts, but to move Lodging Low Impact and Lodging Moderate Impact to a conditional use in C-1, C-2 and C-3, as well as keep STR1 as a permitted use in the three commercial zoning districts.

The commission did this because it feels that having the CUP in place allows for the proper notifications and public hearings, as well as opportunities for the city to negotiate with developers that would result in more desirable developments that are more in line with Wimberley's character and limited infrastructure, Glaiser explained.

Several members of the community spoke in favor of the proposed zoning changes at the council meeting.

The common consensus amongst the residents, including Candy Fore, was maintaining the character of Wimberley — something that P&Z also fought for in its recommendations.

“It would be a wonderful relief for our neighbors to know that we would never have to come before you again to battle someone in our neighborhood about an STR. So, I do support permitting STRs in commercial zones; placing them in commercial zones would help preserve the community’s charm, while keeping tourism balanced with the residents’ way of life,” she said.

“The thought of allowing lodging facilities with up to 30 units as permitted use by right within these zones alarms me,” Fore continued. “Without CUP requirements, how can we protect the charm of our city? What authority would the city need to have to prevent a Holiday Inn & Express or a similar hotel from being built within our city limits? And wouldn’t it be better to allow only lodging that enhances our community and preserves its character, like the attractive lodging facilities that we now have?”

Kate Quisenberry, a local graduate who moved back to the city of Wimberley with her family in 2022, recalled living in the town when there was just one stoplight and, while things have changed significantly since then, “they changed with the character of Wimberley in mind. I think that the changes that were originally proposed and have since been proposed to be amended by planning & zoning would allow for growth within the city, but with boundaries or guardrails on those changes.”

Others, like Cody Truss, who resides in Houston, but has a half-acre R-3-zoned property in Wimberley, questioned having the STRs “being taken out of play.”

“ … It is kind of like the city council’s creating a citywide [homeowners association (HOA)] and I prefer not to do that. [I] also feel like it devalues my property if I were going to sell it because of its location to the square and Market Days; it’s in a location where somebody may want to buy it, even somebody who lives up here, turn it into a short-term rental. That’s being taken away from me,” Truss said.

Council member Rebecca Minnick, who also served on the STR committee, shared some of the reasons as to why these changes are being considered. She noted the following:

•   Permitting does not align with the zoning in R-3: “If you are buying a property in R-3, you technically cannot have multiple [accessory dwelling units (ADU)] there because you don’t have enough impervious cover for parking … It’s very small for a septic and we have pretty much all septic here.”

•   Adding the commercial part was due to keeping the lodging out of the neighborhoods and focusing that in commercial areas.

•   Streamline processes in areas where needed.

“It wasn’t a solution in search of a problem. There were some reasons to do those things that way,” Minnick said.

Council member Anne Ulfelder asked if there was a cap for STRs suggested in the report that was submitted by the committee.

It can be arbitrary and there was not any hard data that showed how a certain number of STRs could impact the city, the Development Services director explained. Therefore, there was more of a focus on zoning districts and geographic reasons — lot size and density issues, for example — that can be referenced.

“I am in absolute agreement that R-3s do not need to have short-term rentals and can’t sustain them, but an R-2 lot is big enough to have a short-term rental and protect the privacy of the neighbors in many cases,” Ulfelder said.

The council member continued to emphasize that she would like to see those people’s rights retained to do with their property as they see fit because they still have to apply for a CUP.

Allowing individuals to exercise their rights on their property was also echoed by council member David Cohen.

“... you have a situation where you’ve got multiple properties on a lot and that's when you end up with concerns about septic and water. I’m perfectly happy with regulating that, if you will, [and say], ‘You can’t have seven houses on a one-acre lot. You can’t have seven families in separate homes with a little tiny house,’” he said. “I have a hard time understanding why someone who purchases a piece of property where some individual or a group of individuals will stay in that piece of property for a specified amount of time, whether it’s a week or a month or six months or a year, shouldn’t be permitted to do so. It shouldn’t make a difference to me how you categorize it.”

“I am sensitive to the property right issue, but I think the city takes away plenty of property rights in the name of creating community and keeping things livable and this is one thing that a lot of residents have talked to us about livability,” council member Chris Sheffield debated.

Sheffield said that he is a little more open to STRs, but he has heard plenty more input from residents who are against them and wanting the city to control them than he has in support of them.

The proposed changes feels like the city is categorizing anybody who is a short-term renter as an undesirable person that nobody wants to live next to, which is kind of a “subtle form of redlining,” Cohen said.

He later stated that he would be more concerned if a neighbor was noisy or kept an unclean area, but achieving that regulation goal would be a challenge by simply prohibiting STRs: “That just seems like it’s overkill.”

Council member Sam Werner explained that his family may not have been able to move to Wimberley from Houston approximately three years ago because of increased housing costs and limited availability at the time. As rights have been mentioned, Werner emphasized that money and resources can also be considered in that conversation.

“Anything that we can do, any extra measure that just allows more opportunity for someone who doesn’t have those other rights to live in this community and a living participant of the community … rather than just having someone come for the weekend,” he said.

The city of Fredericksburg is having a difficult time with this issue, as there is a high percentage of vacation rentals in its downtown area, Minnick noted, instead of having more people who are rooted in the community. However, what solves that is giving the neighbors a say with the caveat that city council still makes the final decision.

Following further discussion, council voted 4-1 — with Werner dissenting — to adopt the ordinance as amended, incorporating P&Z’s recommendation of moving the low and moderate impact lodging to conditional uses in C-1, C-2 and C-3, as well as retain the STR2 CUP process in the R-2 zoning district, rather than eliminating it outright.

Council also unanimously voted to approve a resolution to terminate the moratorium. The city will resume accepting and processing applications Sept. 3.

To listen to the full meeting, visit www.wimberleytx.portal.civicclerk.com.

Chiles emphasized a balance of increasing tourism and infrastructure needs, with a desire to protect the qualities that make Wimberley distinctive. He discussed roads, water, parks, tourism, public safety and long-range planning, while emphasizing that the city continues to operate without a municipal property tax.

“We want to keep our quality of life,” Chiles said. “We want to keep the small-town feel as best that we can.”

That goal comes as Hays County continues to grow and planners project more people will call the Wimberley area home in the coming decades.

Chiles said the city’s comprehensive planning process includes population projections, housing and future land needs, transportation, public facilities, infrastructure and water. The planning effort is being supported by a $300,000 grant from the Texas General Land Office.

According to figures presented by Chiles, Hays County’s population is projected to increase from its current approximation of 335,000 to 575,000 by 2045, an increase of around 72%.

However, Wimberley’s growth has historically been much slower. Chiles said the city had approximately 2,600 residents when it incorporated in 2000 and has 2,900 today. Planning projections put the population at approximately 3,800 in 2045.

Chiles questioned whether Wimberley will actually grow that quickly, noting the city has no large housing subdivisions and issues only about 10 residential building permits annually.

“I’m not sure that I agree with that number,” Chiles said of the projection. “It seems kind of aggressive.”

Sales tax drives city finances

The mayor also discussed how Wimberley pays for improvements.

The city is one of only a handful of Texas municipalities without a city property tax, Chiles said. Its property tax rate is zero and he told those attending the luncheon that city leaders intend to keep it there, meaning that Wimberley depends heavily on sales tax revenue.

Chiles said the city is on pace for another record year and expects to collect about $1.7 million in sales tax revenue. The city also receives franchise and other revenues, along with income generated by parks and tourism.

The lack of property tax revenue, however, creates challenges when the city needs to repair streets or undertake other infrastructure projects, he said.

“So, when you go over some of those roads and the roads are kind of rough, just remember, you’re not paying the city property tax,” Chiles said, jokingly.

The city has increased spending on roads in recent years, budgeting roughly $500,000 to $600,000 for road repairs and improvements.

Chiles said Wimberley has also applied for a $750,000 grant that could significantly increase the funding available for road work. If awarded, the city could spend an estimated $1.4 million on streets next year.

Four roads are scheduled for improvements in the coming weeks: Climate Way, Valley Drive, Blanco Drive and Riverbed Drive.

Chiles said some Wimberley streets were not originally constructed to modern standards, leaving the city with the costly job of rebuilding them.

Old Kyle Road, parks and trails

Another major infrastructure project is the planned reconstruction of Old Kyle Road.

The project would eventually make part of the road one way and include continuous sidewalks and space for bicycles and pedestrians. Chiles said the project is being redesigned and is expected to move forward in 2027.

The city received approximately $3.3 million through the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for the improvements.

Chiles said the project should improve downtown accessibility, while eventually connecting with a broader Hays County trail network.

The city is also moving forward with plans for the Blue Hole Nature Center.

Wimberley received a $750,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife grant for the project, as well as $3 million from Hays County through its Parks and Open Space bond program. The city has applied for an additional $1.5 million grant. Plans call for a nature center with educational space and features, such as rainwater collection.

Chiles also discussed the city’s aquatic feasibility study, which was prompted in part by community interest identified through Wimberley’s parks planning process.

A community survey received 396 responses, with 75% coming from city residents. Chiles said 84% of respondents supported a future swimming pool, while 67% said they travel elsewhere for swimming opportunities.

Any future aquatic facility would likely require cooperation among Wimberley, Woodcreek, the school district and Hays County, he said.

Funding remains a major question. Only 13% of survey respondents supported using a property tax to help pay for such a facility, while 66% supported a bond, according to the presentation.

Remembering Martha Knies

Chiles also discussed planned improvements at Martha Knies Park and remembered Knies, an original member of the Wimberley City Council who played a significant role in obtaining the riverfront property that became the park.

The existing playground equipment, which Chiles said has been in place for decades and has developed safety concerns, will be replaced with a nature-inspired, ADA-accessible playground. The new playground will include a red-shouldered hawk design and other nature-themed features.

The city is conducting a fundraising effort that includes the sale of personalized bricks to help pay for the project.

“Martha would be proud of what we planned on putting in there,” Chiles said.

Tourism continues to grow

Tourism remains an important part of Wimberley’s economy.

Figures presented during the luncheon showed nearly 519,000 visitors through May 2026, about 22% more than the previous year. Hotel occupancy tax collections totaled approximately $537,000, which is an estimated 13% higher than the previous year.

Hotel occupancy tax revenue has helped fund tourism-related projects, including downtown lighting, murals and visitor services. State law limits how municipalities can spend those funds, preventing Wimberley from simply directing the money toward street repairs and other general infrastructure.

Wimberley had also collected more than $1 million in sales tax revenue for the year at the time of Chiles’ presentation.

Chiles said the city is preparing to use new technology that will provide a more detailed look at visitor patterns.

The software uses anonymized mobile-device location information to estimate how many people enter a geographic area, where visitors originate and how long they remain.

Preliminary figures presented by Chiles showed nearly 52,000-day trips and about 171,000 overnight trips to the Wimberley area during the previous 12 months. Overnight visitors stayed an average of 3.2 days.

Houston, Dallas and San Antonio were among the primary markets sending visitors to Wimberley.

“It’s a little bit amazing and scary, the data that they can get off these systems,” Chiles said.

The technology can also measure attendance at individual events.

Chiles said an analysis of Wimberley’s tree-lighting ceremony estimated roughly 3,900 people were in the town square at approximately 6 p.m. Visitors generally remained in the area for about an hour and a half.

City officials hope faster access to the data will help them understand tourism, special events and economic activity.

Managing short-term rentals

With tourism growth has also come discussion about short-term rentals.

Chiles said Wimberley currently has seven hotels, with 114 rooms and about 100 short-term rentals.

The city is considering changes to its short-term rental regulations, including eliminating new Type 2 short-term rentals — properties where the owner does not live on-site  — in certain residential zoning districts.

Chiles said one concern is avoiding an oversupply, while also addressing problems that can arise when owners are not present.

The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended removing new Type 2 short-term rentals from the R-2 and R-3 districts, according to Chiles.

Water remains a priority

Looking ahead, Chiles identified infrastructure, health and safety, walkability, community connectivity and strong relationships with local and regional partners as priorities.

Water remains among the most significant long-term issues.

The city has joined Woodcreek, Hays County and others in seeking funding for water supply and infrastructure improvements. Chiles said the partners recently applied for a $10 million grant, although Wimberley would receive only a portion, if the application is successful.

Chiles expressed hope that changing weather patterns could improve rainfall conditions, but emphasized the importance of water conservation as demand on groundwater continues.

“There’s just too many straws in the ground,” he said.

A message to Wimberley’s future

Chiles closed with a look at a city time capsule buried earlier this year and scheduled to be opened in approximately 25 years.

Its contents include material commemorating the city’s 25th anniversary, annual financial and sales tax information, a previous State of the City presentation, the parks master plan, local newspapers and historical maps.

It also contains images documenting defining moments in Wimberley’s recent history, including the 2015 floods, the 2023 ice storm and the 2024 total solar eclipse.

The capsule serves as a record of a community that has changed considerably since incorporation, but whose leaders say they want to preserve what made it special in the first place, said the mayor.

Chiles shared with those attending that city officials understand that responsibility.

“We want to take care of the city and do the best we can and make sure Wimberley stays as unique and a wonderful place as it is,” he concluded.

Lallement has loved fashion for as long as she can remember, spending afternoons as a toddler drawing her own dress designs and shouting to those who would listen that her favorite color was “rainbow.” There were, of course, not any clothing pieces that could fulfill her dreams as a child, she said, so her mother simply made them.

From there, her interest grew and in eighth grade, she browsed the likes of iconic names — Marc Jacobs and Calvin Klein — and realized they had all gone to fashion school.

“I really started actually realizing that fashion design could be an actual career,” Lallement recalled, cementing her future.

After graduating in 2017 from Wimberley High School, she moved to Massachusetts, where she attended Massachusetts College of Art and Design and majored in fashion design. It was there that she learned how to design for human anatomy, conceptualizing tailoring and draping and more, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she took the time to sit down and think about the aspects of design she really enjoyed.

“When movies like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Rocket Man’ started coming out … the different costumes that they wore left such an electric shock through my body of, ‘Oh my God. All of these costumes create such a moment for whatever the performer is wearing,’” said Lallement.

Her love of music and fashion was further tied when she began analyzing David Bowie and his alter egos, becoming “obsessed with [his] story.” Her time spent being engulfed in Bowie’s story during college would follow her throughout her career, as she stated that she often looked toward him and his personas for inspiration to stay motivated.

A move to New York followed her college graduation, where she’d hold several jobs in the fashion industry. From designing pieces that would be seen in Anthropologie to private couture brands, the designer gained five invaluable years of experience through several companies.

Lallement recalled the first time she saw a design out in the wild, “I was with a friend at the time and it was a powder blue coat and it was floor length. It was very much a statement coat and I told my friend, ‘Oh my God. I designed that coat.’”

As cool as it was, there was also part of her that got a reality check. She realized that she was designing clothes that she didn’t particularly love, despite loving the process: “That was always kind of my North Star.”

So, in June 2025, Lallement asked herself what she would want in a brand.

“I’ve always wanted a brand, [but] what is that? First of all, what does that brand feel like? I began thinking about how electrified I was designing [with] the performance in mind and thinking back to the whole David Bowie project and then, at a friend’s birthday party, she brought up Bob Mackie. He loved performance design [and had] this design relationship with Cher. So, I really started getting into the weeds of watching his documentary, reading [and] watching interviews and going to exhibitions of his work. It was beautiful, but it was all couture, of course,” said Lallement. “I wanted to create a regular brand that was unique and exciting enough for performers to wear on and off stage, as well as for regular fashion-loving women. And that moment that’s created on stage, where the power of the performer’s look, the production and the song morph into one electrifying thing — that’s the feeling I was anchoring onto and that’s the feeling I wanted to grant regular women access to.”

From this feeling — Apparé by Sam Lallement was created.

She spent the next several months putting together a business plan that led to a Kickstarter to fund the project and pitch to suppliers.

“I remember getting my first email back. It almost felt like I was role playing,” Lallement said, recognizing that she was finally in the position she had dreamt of. “Fast forward and now, I’m answering many, many factory emails every single day. It just felt surreal.”

She was involved in every process of the creation, from design to material to being the fit model, which is when people are essentially human mannequins to figure our draping, sizing and more: “As hard as it has been … the word fail never came to my brain ever. No matter how many things have gone wrong, it’s always just been a mindset of learning and adjusting.”

The upcoming fall drop, titled “Babylon,” was inspired by both its ancient history and the 2022 movie of the same name, she said. According to the designer, the movie has to do with the beginning of Hollywood and the fashion drop is the beginning of her brand. One piece called “Aurelia Asymmetric A-Line Top” was inspired by the difference between the wealthy and the rich in ancient Babylon, said Lallement.

She explained that, “The wealthy were wearing super rich colors and a lot of them were wearing these types of garments that were asymmetrically hanging on one shoulder. So, to really represent the overabundance of greed and wealth, I wanted to make a top that just felt like you were wrapped in gold. Then, also thinking about the Gates of Ishtar and the almost terracotta, peach color that was going on with that. I wanted to find a way to really incorporate that. I thought it was a cool way of having some ombré just to create something that felt a little bit vintage, but in a modern way.”

Apparé’s fall drop is available for a two-week pre-order beginning Friday, Aug. 21. There may be one additional order opportunity, but Lallement emphasized that exclusivity is part of the experience.

She plans to “just keep designing”  in the future and continuing her brand, as she’s already working on spring and summer collections.

For more information, visit www.shopappare.com.

Previously, there was a lump sum given across the board, where there have been increases of $4,000-$5,000 to all employees before council opted to change to a percentage. Staff was looking at having a 3% salary increase for city employees — something that was also implemented last year — in the fiscal year (FY) 2026-27 budget, presented during the July 16 meeting.

It was then that council member Anne Ulfelder requested that city administrator Tim Patek look at what the impact would be to change the cost-of-living adjustment to 4-5%, which was brought forward during the most recent workshop.

There are 16 regular full-time, nine regular part-time and 23 seasonal part-time employees with the city of Wimberley in various departments, said Patek. Administration and Public Works are in the general fund, parks and the community center are in the Blue Hole fund and tourism is in its own fund.

The proposed FY 2026-27 budget, as it was initially presented to council, already has a 3% increase calculated in at the following, which is noted under salaries and wages in the expenditures:

•   Administration (general fund): $322,000 full-time

•   Public Works: $6,000 part-time; $209,000 full-time

•   Community center: $21,000 part-time; $99,000 full-time

•   Parks: $144,000 part-time; $402,000 full-time

•   Administration (hotel occupancy tax): $2,500 part-time; $122,600 full-time

Patek presented that if council elected to change the adjustment to a different number, the impact would be an additional $5,595 for 3.5%, $11,190 for 4%, $16,785 for 4.5% and $22,380 for 5%.

“If you go to 5[%], the $22,380 would be added on into three budgets. Approximately $10,000 would be added to the general fund for salaries, $10,000 to Parks and around $2,000 to [Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT)], added on to the 3% that is already included,” Patek said.

Last month, Patek presented a balanced budget across the board, with, for example, the general fund’s revenue and expenditures both totaling $2,147,000, as previously reported by the News-Dispatch.

Ulfelder asked where the city administrator envisioned the new figures for the salaries coming from in the balanced budget and if it’s “really doable” to go up from the 3%.

Patek responded that it is possible because he always takes a conservative approach with the budget, so there is leeway for city spending: “It is doable. There will be tweaks here and there on the income that comes in, but it’s not an issue, in my opinion.”

Mayor pro tem Rebecca Minnick asked if the city of Wimberley’s pay scale is in line with the market of the immediate area.

“I do believe so. I remember I told you that in the past, we made some increases that I thought were very viable to get people up to where they need to be and to keep them,” Patek said. “We have a great staff. We have very little turnover and I think everyone is happy and I know they will be very appreciative if that is what you guys wanted to do.”

In response to Ulfelder’s question on if council could opt to do a lower increase after the next fiscal year, if needed, Patek shared that is a possibility, but hopefully, that would not be the case. He explained that there are some places, like the cities of San Marcos and Kyle, where they are having to eliminate positions or freeze pay raises.

“That’s happened to several cities throughout Texas, especially the ones that I’ve worked at. I’ve heard about that happening. One year, they don’t get a cost-of-living [adjustment], but then they come back the next year and then, they will be able to get one,” he said. “It just depends on that city and what they’ve got going on in their financial status.”

Trying to have a consistent baseline of a 3% increase is great, said council member Sam Werner, but as global conflicts and other issues that arise that put market pressures on a lot of people, it may not be possible to do something more every year.

Umfelder said that 5% is not scary, based on the numbers presented and knowing all of the work that city employees do.

“Just the amount that you all have on your shoulders and always perform flawlessly, that needs to be recognized in every way that we can,” she said.

Council member Chris Sheffield agreed, stating that the city has a fairly small budget, leaning him to be more inclined to do a 4% increase for a cost-saving measure, while still increasing the employees’ salaries.

Looking at what direction to give Patek when moving forward with the budget process, Werner said that he would “split the difference” and say 4.5%, to which Minnick agreed. According to Minnick, the mayor, who was absent during the meeting, shared that he would be comfortable with 4%.

After more back and forth across the dais, council gave Patek direction to include a 5% salary increase in the proposed budget.

“Given the volatile nature of markets and the world, that [5%] should not be an expectation year after year,” Minnick stated.

Council meets next at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20.

Four grandmothers from Alexis Pointe Senior Living sat behind a small table with a big purpose: sharing the kind of advice that only comes from decades of raising children, loving grandchildren and learning that the most important lessons in life never really change.

Customers wandered over, some smiling, others curious. Before long, conversations replaced transactions, as the women dispensed gentle reminders, practical parenting tips and a healthy dose of grandmotherly common sense.

"Tell your kids don't get into any trouble and concentrate on school," Shirley Aromando said with the confidence of someone who has seen enough first days of school to know what matters.

Beside her, Sharline Alvord encouraged parents to invest in relationships, not just school supplies.

"Meet with the teachers and get to know the teachers and the principal," she said.

Jane Gunn, whose family now includes 15 grandchildren, didn't hesitate when asked about classroom discipline.

"When the teacher says, ‘no,’" she said, smiling, "they mean no and that's final."

The advice wasn't complicated. It didn't come from parenting books or social media experts. It came from women whose experience spans generations; women who have celebrated report cards, soothed first-day tears, packed countless lunches and watched nervous children become confident adults.

Their memories of school still bring smiles.

Peggy Bateman, who spent her career as a teacher, said it was always the children who made every day worthwhile.

"Your kids made you smile," she said simply.

Alvord still laughs when she thinks about riding the school bus for all 12 years.

"We had fun on the bus," she recalled.

Aromando remembered a different challenge.

"It was hard getting my son to go to school because he didn't like it," she said, drawing laughs from those listening.

For Gunn, one lesson has remained constant through the years.

"Know what your kids are participating in," she said. "Participate with them."

As they talked of those first day jitters of school, the women revealed the routines that helped calm anxious children and sometimes their parents.

"Just have everything ready to go," Bateman advised.

Alvord remembered walking each of her children into school, holding their hand before they stepped into the classroom.

"That kind of calmed them down a little bit," she said.

Gunn believes perspective matters just as much.

"Manage your expectations of the school and the kids," she said. "It always works out."

Then came the lighter questions, what was the one school lunch or after-school snack their children loved?

Bateman's answer was immediate: "Cookies."

Alvord said peanut butter and jelly sandwiches disappeared quickly from lunch boxes, while Gunn laughed remembering how much her children loved French fries after school.

But perhaps the sweetest moment came when Alvord reflected on the legacy she hopes she has left her family.

"All my grandchildren remember that they were loved by their grandmother," she said. "They're all adults now and they still say that."

Asked what single sentence they would write on a classroom chalkboard for every family to read, their answers reflected a lifetime of parenting.

"Participate in every activity your children are in," Alvord said.

"If you obey the rules, we'll have more fun doing the good stuff instead of spending all our time disciplining," Gunn added.

Aromando offered a simple reminder : "Do what you're supposed to do. Be good to your family. And have fun."

For the Alexis Pointe staff members who joined the residents, the afternoon was a reminder that their community is filled with living history.

"They carry so much wisdom and so much knowledge," said Victoria Whitley, LVN and area director of business development. "One of the things you heard over and over was, 'Have fun. Live life. Be happy.' That's something every generation needs to remember."

Community Relations director Katy Starr said the residents continue to teach her every day.

"They've lived so many years and what better source to learn from than our elders?" Starr said. "Whenever I have a question or something weighing on me, I can ask them. They'll give it to me straight and they're always uplifting."

Activities director Lili Kiel said the relationships she has built with residents shape both her work and her life.

"They teach me the importance of community and being there for your neighbors," Kiel said. "They inspire the work I do and the way I move through life with my friends and my family."

As customers paused to chat before heading down the aisles, it became clear the women weren't simply handing out advice. They were offering reassurance.

In a time filled with hurried shopping trips, nervous children and anxious parents, four grandmothers reminded everyone that success isn't measured only by grades or test scores.

It's found in showing up, holding a child's hand, knowing the teacher's name, making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, baking cookies and saying "I love you" often enough that your grandchildren still remember it decades later.

Those lessons don't come pre-packaged or in a backpack. But they may be the most valuable things children carry into a new school year.

According to the presentation completed by Chief Financial Officer Michael Doyle, the district is currently estimating $37,062,253 of total operating revenues and $29,587,332 of total operating expenditures for the conclusion of its fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 budget. This difference is a fund balance of $7,353,413, which, when added to the beginning balance of $6,629,803, results in an ending fund balance of $13,983,216.

In an effort to understand funding, Doyle discussed estimated enrollment numbers, as this, along with attendance average, directly affects the district’s revenue available from the state legislature.

“School districts need to have students and then, they need to have the students attend class. When you look at roll-up numbers and anticipated students in our classes, you can see that in [20]27, we're anticipating an enrollment of about 2,612,” he said. “That ADA [or] average daily attendance rate is the driving factor in our revenue template … We’ve seen at our high school, a higher number of students graduating early, which is great and I’m glad that they’re able to finish their educational pathway, but once they finish, it affects our ADA rate. I wanted to build that projection now, so that way we’re not projecting higher and actually receiving lower [next school year].”

He then presented several payroll scenarios for potential approval in the compensation plan, including:

•   A 2% pay increase for all employees

•   Increasing the district’s health insurance contribution by $40, for a total of $390 per month

•   Market-based salary adjustments across the district

•   Increase bus driver pay to maintain compensation at 90% of the market

•   Increase the starting teacher salary to $50,000 from the current $48,500

Trustee Rob Campbell asked whether staff considered increasing the starting pay even higher, since only several new teachers are hired each year, but Doyle stated that this can’t be done because it would outpace the other teachers, if this was the case.

“We looked at all positions and we wanted to provide a package that shows that we’re investing in our employees, investing in their benefits. We’re remaining competitive. We’re supporting retention, attracting those high-quality teachers for our district, as well, and staff, not just teachers, but all of our staff,” said Doyle.

Because of these changes, next year’s payroll expenditures would increase by approximately $423,000. This, along with an approximate increase of $200,000 in non-payroll expenditures, leads to a total operating expenditures cost of $30,378,488 for FY 2027, with $31,040,870 in revenue.

“When you take that estimated ending fund balance for this current year of $13.9 million, you’ll see that we’re about breaking even,” he shared, adding that there would still be $28,000 added to the fund balance, totaling $14 million.

The compensation plan passed 4-0. Trustees Chad Canine, Will Conley and Andrea Justus were not in attendance.

The presentation also detailed that the anticipated tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year is $1.0076 per $100 tax valuation, comprising of $0.7065 for maintenance and operations and $0.3011 for interest and sinking, though this will come back to the board in August for approval.

The Wimberley Board of Trustees will meet next Aug. 7.

The natural area was initially closed to swimmers June 29, 2022, after flow dipped down to zero cubic feet per second (CFS), along with stagnation and algae development in the water, according to Hays County Parks and Natural Resources Department director Karl Flocke. That closure has continued to be in effect since.

Levels are measured using a gauge that is installed within Jacob’s Well by the United States Geological Survey. This measures outflow, height and other metrics, such as temperature of and nitrates in the water, to give a constant reading on what the conditions are.

These water levels are starting to increase, as there has been some return in flow after the area received heavy rainfall throughout the spring and summer this year, Flocke said.

“Typically, a rapid spike in the flow of water from the well has also had a rapid decline afterwards, but in general, what we've seen is after every single rainfall, it seems to be taking longer and longer for the flow to return to zero [CFS],” he explained.

A week after heavy rainfall in July, flow has not reached zero CFS, rather it is holding “pretty steady,” between approximately 1-1.5 CFS. However, average flow at Jacob’s Well is typically between 4-6 CFS, so the current flow is about a quarter of what staff would normally like to see, Flocke said.

“This is really the best flow we have had since 2022. In that four-year period, there have been a couple of rainstorms [and] good rainfalls where we have seen very short-term flow, but the flow we're seeing right now during the summer of 2026 is certainly the best flow we've seen since 2022,” he said. “It is still nowhere near where we would like to be, though.”

While the flow outlook is beginning to improve, the likelihood that Jacob’s Well will reopen to swimmers this summer is extremely low. Flocke said that there would need to be about four times the water flow for a long period of time — an additional 12-16 inches of rain within a month — to get to that point.

In the long term, however, that could change, the director continued.

“We are looking at having a persisting or even strengthening El Niño and that typically leads to an above average rainfall over the winter and so, if we do continue to see that above average rainfall through the fall, winter and spring, next summer, it could be a possibility,” Flocke said. “It really will just depend on how much rainfall we get within the next six to eight months.”

Jacob’s Well Natural Area is located at 1699 Mt. Sharp Road, Wimberley. Though swimming is cancelled until further notice, hiking is still available.

Learn more at www.hayscountytx.gov/444/Jacobs-Well-Natural-Area.

This follows the cities of Wimberley and Woodcreek, along with Hays County, entering into a Collaborative Water and Wastewater Planning Efforts Interlocal Agreement (ILA) in May 2025. Additionally, at its July 7, 2026, meeting, the Hays County Commissioners Court authorized the Civil Division of the Criminal District Attorney's office at its July 7 meeting to negotiate a professional services agreement of no more than $50,000 with Accenture, related to the creation of an entity with representatives from the county and aforementioned cities.

“As everyone knows, we are fighting for water constantly and we don't have local authority and we always say we don't have local authority from a county perspective and we are waiting on the state legislature to do something,” said commissioner Morgan Hammer at the July 7 commissioners court meeting. “This is something that we can put into place that will help us. We are having tons of funds from the state level being allocated towards water … This would give us not only teeth, but would also allow us to accept funds and to help our water infrastructure and also if there was ever a time where a pipeline was run into Wimberley, it would give us some authority to be able to dictate what happens to that and how development is kind of controlled from there.”

According to Wimberley City Council member Rebecca Minnick, who sponsored the July 16 resolution to support Hays County working to evaluate creating an entity, this is the most concrete effort that has been proposed since the ILA was entered into last year.

“It’s already passed the county, so I thought that it made sense for us to go ahead and do a resolution for council because we haven’t been able to discuss this with you as a group,” she said.

The proposed scope of work — expected to be complete within 120 days — for the entity includes the following: stakeholder engagement; evaluation of governance options; identification of grant and funding opportunities; and development of recommendations for an entity that could support sustainable water supply planning, water resource protection and regional coordination, according to agenda documents.

This brings another “tool in our toolkit” to have a more robust water supply, plan for the future and give more weight as a single entity than it would be if the city of Wimberley tried to do it on its own, Minnick added.

“What this does is it gives a jurisdiction where we can apply for grants and right now, there is a water source grant that’s out there that we probably would be able to apply for right away and this is out of the state water fund,” Minnick said. “The issue becomes as a city, we can apply for that, but there are areas in the [extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ)] that maybe these water sources might be located and there’s really no jurisdiction to do that.”

This resolution does not create a new entity or obligate the city to participate in any future organization or financial commitment, so any future proposal on the formation of a regional entity or the city’s participation would require separate approval by council.

“Basically, it says that everybody is on board with this next step and when the next steps come, then we will have another formal agreement,” Minnick said, adding that they don’t know what the structure looks like until Accenture reports its findings.

Wimberley City Council unanimously approved the resolution.

Budget

In a workshop held prior to its regular meeting July 16, Wimberley City Council went over its fiscal year 2027 budget.

The key budget priorities, as listed by city administrator Tim Patek, include the following: maintaining core services; infrastructure and road maintenance; parks and recreation investments; technology and operation support; and financial sustainability.

According to Patek, the general fund budget, as it is currently proposed, is balanced, as the revenues and expenditures both total $2,147,000.

“The process is to always try to have a balanced budget on all of our budgets,” Patek said.

The major source of revenue in the general fund is from the tax revenue, according to Patek, with general sales and use at $1,575,000, mixed beverage at $95,000 and franchise at $310,000. Other sources of revenue include license and permit fees at $48,000 and service fees at $54,000, as well as interest revenues at $60,000 and miscellaneous at $5,000.

In the expenditures, personnel services — at $407,700 — and administration, totaling $793,800, remain the largest operating costs. Similar to last year, staff is looking at having a 3% salary increase for city employees, Patek said.

“We kind of have a norm with that. The two prior years before that, we gave a lump sum across the board and we tried to increase the gap from the lowest to the highest to this,” the city administrator explained. “So, my first year here, we gave a $5,000 increase to all employees and the second year, we gave a $4,000 increase to decrease that gap and then, after that, I talked with council and staff that we were looking at giving a percentage after that and they were all good with that.”

Patek explained that some employees who were given the $5,000 increase, they got a 10-12% increase one year and then, it was almost the same next year.

Council member Anne Ulfelder said that she would like to see the pay increase for this year be at least 5%.

In response, Patek said that it would be up to council on what it would like for staff to look at when going over the numbers. He added that the city also increased the retirement contribution from 5% to 6%, so that “takes a little bit of a hit, as well.”

Ulfelder asked Patek to provide the impact for a pay increase of 4% and 5%.

Other components of the budget include Parks and Recreation, Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT), Wastewater and Interest and Sinking funds.

Similar to that of the general fund, Parks and Recreation has a proposed budget of $1,232,000 in revenue and expenditures — the latter of which includes the community center, which has been moved into this fund from last year, Patek said.

The other three funds are also balanced at:

•   HOT: Revenue and expenditures at $725,000

•   Wastewater: Revenue and expenditures at $436,000

•   Interest and Sinking: Revenue and expenditures at $367,000

The next budget workshop will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, with the ultimate adoption, fee schedule and proposed goals adoption slated for Sept. 17.

To listen to the full meeting recordings, visit www.wimberleytx.portal.civicclerk.com.

There is a distinction between the data centers that were approved in 2013 and the ones that are currently being green lighted, Hill explained. The newer ones, at an upwards of 800 acres, are known as hyper-scale data centers, which are being used for artificial intelligence (AI) training models and surveillance. When there is conversation about mass layoffs, she continued, those jobs are being replaced by AI data models, in which the data centers are the processing warehouses that have to be large enough to process the quantities of information.

“[The technology companies] said that Texas is very important. It will be the epicenter and it will be the place where they are choosing to grow their business. So, when we're talking about these data centers coming in, it's not like we're servicing the local community,” Hill said. “This will service native processing throughout the U.S. and they have pegged Texas as that point for it to happen, without any concern of what that means for the local communities.”

Various issues, including power and water, surround how the current approximately 400 data centers that are slated to be built across the state of Texas.

Each data center can consume between 100 to more than 500 megawatts of electricity, which is equivalent to powering 75,000 to 375,000 homes, according to Hill. While the state has experienced grid failures during winter storms, this new demand could put that at an even greater risk.

A single facility can also use three to five million gallons of water every day for cooling; many of these facilities are proposed in areas where groundwater resources are already scarce and local water districts lack the authority or information to assess the long-term impact on aquifers, she said.

“The government has made it very easy for them to build in Texas because the land is cheap, but we are experiencing drought, so they're not balancing this plan that they're looking at with the actual reality of the situation or the landscape of the people who live here. So, this is very much being forced on people in their communities,” the resident shared. “It's very unsettling that we're not part of that conversation to make sure that these are being built in the right way, in a way that serves the community and in a responsible way that also fosters the longevity of the community. If there is no water, then they're going to have to completely shut down that facility and figure out ways to put Band-Aids on it to make sure that it's still operational.”

In learning about the impact that these would have, Hill created the grassroots organization, Don’t Drain Texas, along with a website to provide the tools that people need in order to contact their state representatives. She’s also developing a resource that would allow counties to get more “granular” in tracking the data centers and tying them to specific locations.

“I also obviously heard that in San Marcos there was a huge turnout for the protests against building there, so, because San Marcos is very close to Wimberley, that got my attention. I'm like, "Oh, wow! These are coming into my county, into my neighborhood,’” she said. “All we have is the ability to speak up against what’s happening, so, knowing that, I just thought it was very important to give [people] tools to organize because Facebook is not conducive to that. If someone posts really valuable information, it just gets lost in the feed. You can't tie it to anything on a map or a specific location. So, I just thought it was vital that I then start developing these tools and do it for free because none of these tools exist right now for grassroots organizing on an actual granular level to really mobilize people.”

Additionally, Hill shared that she submitted two petitions to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) — the latter of which has been accepted and is now live for public comment — to make it mandatory for the agencies to assess the water usage information before approving the facility “because there are a lot of areas of drought in Texas.”

There was a hearing for the Texas House Committee on Natural Resources held Tuesday, June 23, that ran for more than 10 hours and the first three hours consisted of the committee speaking to TWDB, PUCT and Electric Reliability Council of Texas, explaining that there is no data to make adequate decisions for water planning with the state’s water plan.

According to Hill, the data centers are not voluntarily reporting how much water they are using — only 17 out of 340 facilities have — and her petitions filed May 29 preceded Gov. Greg Abbott’s call to action for data centers to provide their own power and water and not to drain Texas communities.

Ultimately, Hill would like to see the 90th Legislative Session, which begins in January, to have several bills that support local communities and protect the water resources in Texas by fostering responsible development and limiting what can be done.

To learn more about the organization, data centers and upcoming hearings ahead of the legislative session, visit www.dontdraintexas.com.

The new role will be responsible for providing districtwide campus support to both teachers and campus leaders, stated a news release. The role will lead and coordinate multiple initiatives that are either brand new to WISD, like the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), and systems that have undergone massive changes by the state in recent years, such as the Teachers Education Association accountability system, the STAAR assessments and the College, Career, Military Readiness (CCMR) measurement.

“I am grateful to our board for approving this important position to expand support for our teachers and students. With new programs and increased state requirements created over the past several years, this is a critical moment to invest directly in our students and teachers,” said Superintendent Dr. Greg Bonewald. “Growth in student achievement is dependent on teachers having access to the training, tools and data they need to excel. This position will help bridge an existing gap and enhance our district’s ability to achieve the important goals established by our board in our strategic plan.”

Following the creation of the position, Bonewald announced that current Wimberley High School assistant principal, Errin Jennings, has been appointed to serve in this new role.

Bonewald continued, sharing that “Jennings possesses a rare skill set. Seeing her leadership on the high school campus this past year made it clear that we needed to find a way to more fully utilize her talents in an intentional way for the benefit of our faculty and students. Her prior experience with the TIA program and her passion for supporting teachers and students through data-driven instruction make her an ideal fit for this position.”

“I am so appreciative for the opportunity to serve the students, staff and families of Wimberley High School and I’m thrilled that this position will allow me to expand that impact throughout the district,” said Jennings. “I believe passionately that when teachers feel supported, students will grow and I can’t wait to get started.”

Following the announcement of Jennings, Bonewald also announced that Christy Brothers, who previously led the district’s Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP), would be joining the WHS administrative team as assistant principal to fill the vacancy created by Jennings’s transition.

Brothers has served as the WISD DAEP director for the last five years and has an additional six years of experience as a campus administrator at other districts. Prior to that, she had 14 years of experience working in various special education roles at districts around Texas.

“I’m incredibly excited to keep working alongside our wonderful WISD students, families, staff and community,” said Brothers. “I'm ready to hit the ground running and look forward to serving the students and staff at WHS.”

WHS principal Ryan Wilkes said, “Christy knows our school and our systems inside and out, which will allow us to maintain stability and structure. She has done a fantastic job at DAEP, holding high expectations for everyone, and we look forward to seeing her continue that excellent work at the high school campus.”

Brothers has a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and a master’s degree in special education, both from Texas A&M University-Kingsville. She is married to her husband Dustin and has one adult son, Aaron. In her free time she enjoys traveling, gardening and taking care of her animals.

WISD is currently accepting applications for the DAEP director position.

According to the presentation, the Wimberley Strategic Plan is set to end in 2027, after its initial stage occurring in 2023. In it, the mission states that the district is “dedicated to excellence in education, empowering the next generation of Texas to have a positive impact locally and globally” through four priorities: empower student excellence, support faculty and excellence, strengthen community excellence and ensure operational excellence.

Focusing on the first priority — empowering students — Grisham noted that she would be sharing the district’s special education demographics and a review of the 2025 results-driven accountability district report, compiled of data from the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years.

“Beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, we started that school year on the snapshot day of having 286 students qualified for special education. By the end of that school year, we were at 304. If you skip forward and go into the ’25-’26 [school year] snapshot day, we had 486 students and at the end of the school year, we had 506,” shared Grisham. “That has been an increase of 200 students over those past five years in special education.”

She also explained that the growth for the most recent school year may appear to only be 20, but the district serves more than that. It actually served 575 students, but some may have been dismissed from the program, due to achieving goals, being removed or transferring out of the WISD.

The presentation also detailed the most prominent areas that qualify these students for special education:

•   Specific learning disability: 202 or 40.4%

•   Speech impairment: 110 or 22%

•   Autism: 52 or 10.4%

•   Other health impairment: 71 or 14.2%

•   Emotional disturbance: 40 or 8%

Moving onto the findings of the results-driven accountability district report, Grisham stated that WISD received a Determination Level 1: Meets Requirements, which is the highest ranking.

“Our kids with special learning needs, they are also achieving the district vision of excellence, innovation and service,” she emphasized. “We’re closing the gaps; our students are closing the gaps in their STAAR performance. Our 2026 graduates have all demonstrated essential workplace skills and our students are growing socially [and] academically. We have kids that are involved in almost all of our activities within our district.”

Although there are many areas to celebrate, she did note that there is room for improvement by persisting in closing academic gaps, increasing the number of college readiness testers and empowering students toward the completion of career programs and industry-based certificates.

In response to trustee Chad Canine’s inquiry on any challenges the program is facing, Grisham explained that staff is looking into how to provide training for the special education support staff, paraprofessionals and general education teachers who also play a role in supporting the students.

Trustee Rob Campbell noted that the students make up a large percentage of the overall district population at 21.5% and thanked Grisham for her hardwork.

The Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees will meet next Monday, July 27.

Zoning

The first zoning change relates to amendments to the Chapter 9, Article 9.03 - Zoning, Division 7 - Administration and Enforcement in the city of Wimberley’s code of ordinances. Currently, a supermajority vote is required by city council to approve a zoning change where there are protests from the owners of at least 20% of land within 200 feet of the subject property.

However, with the newly-passed House Bill (HB) 24, that protest threshold has increased to 60% for zoning changes that result in an increase in residential housing.

Another component of this is due to HB 4506, which introduces a new definition within the zoning hearing section of the ordinance known as a comprehensive zoning change. This is for citywide changes where zoning is being completely repealed to adopt a new one, along with those that involve more residential housing, according to director of Development Services Nathan Glaiser.

“This bill was really passed to encourage more residential housing and make it easier for cities to make those zoning changes that would allow for that,” he said.

Secondly, another change in ordinance — related to temporary structures and adding mobile food vendors and mobile food courts — was discussed.

HB 2844, which becomes effective July 1, limits and preempts certain local regulations and requires municipalities to ensure that local ordinances governing mobile food vendors are consistent with state law. Currently, the city of Wimberley uses its temporary structure ordinance to permit food trucks, but the new law no longer allows for local permitting; it all goes through the state, Glaiser explained.

“This ordinance is essentially just removing that temporary structure ordinance, where if someone wants a food truck, they have to come and present to [council] and you vote on it. We have to get rid of that process and at this moment, it does not replace it with anything,” Glaiser said, adding that with the new law, food trucks will now be overseen by the state.

The city still has the authority to enforce its zoning laws, the development services director clarified. So, if a property is zoned commercial, then the food trucks can set up and all they need is a state permit, but, in a residential neighborhood, that is not a permitted use.

Glaiser noted that Hays County is getting ready for the major change, as officials can no longer permit food trucks through the health department, but they will be out to ensure that everyone has their state permit.

Council member Chris Sheffield asked if health code violations can still be enforced.

They can still be investigated by the county or city officials, but the state permit still needs to be displayed at the food truck and if that is not visible, then it needs to be reported to the state, Glaiser responded.

City council unanimously approved both zoning changes in order for the city of Wimberley to be in compliance with state law.

Short-term rentals

Additionally, council unanimously approved an extension of a current temporary moratorium that is in effect. This puts a pause on the acceptance, processing and approval of applications for STRs that require a conditional use permit (CUP) in order to give the city more time to evaluate existing regulations, assess impacts on neighborhoods and consider potential amendments to the code of ordinances.

The moratorium was initially approved in November 2025 for 120 days and then, a subsequent extension was approved in March 2026 for 90 days to remain in effect until July 4.

Now, an additional extension for 90 days was brought to the table to provide further time for review, stakeholder input and the development of recommended regulatory updates.

Council member David Cohen asked if there is a backlog of any applicants wanting CUPs because they have not been able to get them during the moratorium.

There is not, Glaiser responded, but there have been some inquiries from mostly realtors who are wanting to buy properties in the city of Wimberley and are curious if they will have an opportunity to get a CUP in the future. Additionally, Glaiser said that he has had the opposite, where there have been some who have questioned if they will be able to get a CUP to get their property to go on the market.

“All that is in limbo until we adopt,” Cohen said.

“It is and since you’ve given me the direction to move forward with the changes, I am telling them that this is kind of what you can expect is that yes, your property will probably be able to get a CUP here in the next 90 days,” Glaiser said.

Ultimately, council unanimously approved extending the temporary moratorium for another 90 days.

Along with the moratorium, the city and appointed STR Committee have been working to review the regulations and how it currently manages STR properties. While action on the amendments proposed by the committee — initially brought forth to council May 21 — was back on the agenda, there was no action taken because Glaiser requested for more time for city staff to send the required letters to property owners in, as well as those within 200 feet of, the affected zoning districts.

Wimberley City Council will meet next at 4 p.m. for a budget workshop and 6 p.m. for its regular meeting Thursday, July 16.

Before his time with the agency, Strange served in the United States Air Force for four years and then, landed in Wimberley from Florida in 1985. It was then that he was employed with Lear-Siegler as a traveling aircraft mechanic for 11 years, with the latter three being spent as a field team supervisor at Bergstrom Air Force Base.

“When I first got [to Wimberley], there were no stoplights in town,” Strange recalled. “There was a three-way stop at Ranch Road 12 and River Road and if you didn't get gas before 6 o'clock, you were out of luck; there was no gas until the next day. We had a little Country Boys grocery store and one doctor in town.”

His love for serving continued locally in Wimberley when he volunteered at the fire department, joining in 1989, during his free time at home. At the Wimberley Volunteer Fire Department, Strange earned multiple certifications, including basic firefighter, swiftwater rescue instructor and low to high angle instructor.

Strange entered his career as a paramedic naturally when he signed up for an Emergency Care Attendant — which is the lowest level of emergency medicine — class through the fire department. Once he got into it, he found that he thoroughly enjoyed the field and had a gift for working with people.

He was hired by Wimberley EMS on a part-time basis in 1991 and began his training as an emergency medical technician (EMT). By 1995, Strange received his EMT-paramedic license and began working full-time in 1996, before securing the director position in July 2004.

Being with the agency for an extended period of time, just like he has done with the town, Strange has been able to watch Wimberley EMS evolve over the years from being one of only three paid paramedics when he first joined to the current 17, along with two office staff members. He also helped install a brand new EMS station in 2020 completely debt-free.

“We worked 24 hours on, 24 hours off and even on your 24 hours off, you were expected to run calls if they got really busy, so I pretty much lived for Wimberly EMS for about the first three years,” Strange shared.

His drive for serving the Wimberley community extended into other endeavors over the years, including, but not limited to, building houses for Habitat for Humanity, being a voice on the Capital Area of Texas Regional Advisory Council executive board, advocating for mental and medical health, helping Barnabas Connection with its strategic and emergency plans and even deejaying school dances.

Strange was also recognized as a Hays County First Responder Hero after the 2015 flood that brought devastation to the Wimberley community; named Patriot of the Year in 2019; voted the Best of Wimberley Paramedic Award countless times; and was honored with Ken Strange Day in Wimberley Aug. 9, 2024, by Wimberley City Council.

Now, after 30 total years of serving through Wimberley EMS, Strange made the decision to step down and plans to turn his focus into his family-owned businesses, The Med Spa and Spoon Mountain Glamping.

Having served on the Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees since 2008, never having had an opponent run against him, he also plans to seek one more term after his current term expires in November.

The time he has spent being rooted into the local, supportive community is not lost on Strange. For him, he will miss the excitement of running calls and helping people when they are at their darkest time.

“I just love helping the people of Wimberley. I love this valley. It's just been a passion of mine to be involved in the community and I’ve loved everything about the job. I love everything about this town,” Strange concluded. “Thank you so much for supporting me all the years and encouraging me and just allowing me to be a part of this community; that's really where my heart is right now. I'm just very grateful for the time I got to spend here and I'm just really grateful for all the people I've got to meet.”

The program will cover Alzheimer’s, stigma reduction, family support and how routine, structured care and purposeful engagement improve quality of life. Attendees can expect interactive activities and guided discussion designed to help residents experience daily success within a supportive setting.

“Brain health is something every family deserves to understand, not just navigate,” said Lili Kiel, activities director of Alexis Pointe. “This talk gives our community a space to ask questions, learn what’s possible with thoughtful care and walk away feeling more informed and less alone.”

Alexis Pointe is located at 14390 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley. For more information on the senior living community, visit ​​bit.ly/4v3Qazi.

The nonprofit began in 1986 when a group of women wanted a new opportunity to get their crafts to people, since they had given as much out to their friends and family as they could, said board of directors president Marilyn Pierce. The building — originally a candle shop and front porch — in the Wimberley Square was donated and the rest is history.

Over the years, the interior of the building, which still sits in its original location, has gotten a facelift, through new flooring, shelving, expansions and more, said vice president Madonna Kimball, but its goal has remained the same: “Keep seniors active.”

The idea of the shop is simple: “It’s a place where seniors can continue making their crafts. They can work a day a month, so they get to socialize and they get extra money,” she said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

The criteria consists of being 55 years of age or older, living in the 78676 zip code, being able to physically able to go up and down stairs, having the ability to work one full day or two half days a month, attending a monthly membership meeting, passing the five half days of training and possessing the cognitive function to work a register. Then, the Membership Committee will review the applicant’s work to determine that it is not duplicating another already available in the shop.

The crafts made must be unique, explained Kimball, whether this is a varying medium or object. Each member, or employee, keeps their own inventory, sets a price and receives payment for each item sold.

From there, a vote will be taken by all members of the Craft Shop on whether the candidate joins.

The membership fluctuates between 25-30 members, according to the shop’s information sheet and if a product is already being sold, aspiring members can be put on a waiting list, in case an opportunity arises for their craft.

Because the shop emphasizes unique crafts from its members, there are a variety of options available for visitors, such as embroidered items, crochet and knit pieces, glassware, Christmas decorations, wood burnings and more.

“We have a lot of really unusual stuff in here, like the microwave bowl holders,” the vice president shared. “You put the whole thing in the microwave and then, when you take it out, you don’t burn yourself, plus the fact that the bowl is usually hotter than the food. So, this way, you don’t have to wait for the bowl to cool down … We [also] have somebody that paints bluebonnets; it’s about all she does is paint bluebonnets and cardinals on glass and on ornaments, log slices. We have jewelry [and] we have just about everything imaginable.”

Pierce herself also participates in creating some of the products. In the shop, customers can find wooden signs on the left wall with sayings displayed created by Pierce herself. She goes out, sources the wood and the rest of the materials needed to put the artwork together. Then, she brings it into the shop, where community members and visitors can then purchase them. This is why they are able to keep the prices so low, Pierce said: “There’s no middle man.” Every item is handmade or assembled by an older adult in the community. So, when customers purchase items, they really are directly supporting their neighbors.

Those that choose to purchase items at the shop, allowing it to continue running, are helping older adults in more ways than one, stressed Pierce.

“It [gives us] a chance to socialize. You have to think because you’re doing business. If some of the members are having a few problems, we pair up and work together, so everybody has an opportunity to be useful,” she said.

Kimball added to this, stating that it provides a reason for older adults to continue crafting and being creative.

This support is given back to its community, said Kimball, as although the shop’s aim is to support older adults, it also focuses on giving back to the community. She noted that they regularly provide snack bags, personal care bags and more to the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center and recently gave a $500 donation to the local VFW.

The shop will be celebrating 40 years “of crafting with love” from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at the shop, where a new mural dedication will be made and residents can come out and enjoy a night of refreshments, door prizes and music by the TrebleMakers. Additionally, shops along the square have committed to staying open later that night.

“When I first walked into this building in 1990, it was a lot of little vases with pipe cleaners and little pipe cleaner animals, that kind of thing. I’d like everybody to know that we have some really talented crafters in here,” said Kimball. “The stuff we sell is very well made … We want [visitors] to go home and see the quality with which the item was made and to realize that’s what our shop is: a shop with quality items and good prices.”

The Senior Citizens Craft Shop is located at 116 Wimberley Square.

Currently, property owners who wish to operate an STR must apply with the city through the conditional use permit (CUP) process that is established in the zoning ordinance. The process then includes neighbor notifications and a public hearing before both the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) and Wimberley City Council; ultimately, council makes the decision on the issuance of the permit.

In July 2025, P&Z chair Anne Ulfelder asked member Vance McCracken to assemble and oversee a committee to research the current STR — properties used for transient lodging for stays of 30 consecutive days or less — situation in Wimberley and produce a report of its findings. The STR Committee was then established and comprised of the following members: Helena Hauk, Courtney Mecklenburg, McCracken, city council member Rebecca Minnick and P&Z vice-chairperson Ben O’Kane, with Nathan Glaiser — assistant city administrator and Development Services director — providing city support.

Later, in October, following much deliberation, P&Z passed a motion to recommend that council approve an STR CUP for a property zoned R-3 — primarily detached, single-family residences on lots not less than 100 square feet, according to city zoning regulations — on River Road.

Additional discussion and public input prompted council to enact a 120-day temporary moratorium Nov. 6 on STR applications that require a CUP, pending findings of the committee.

At that time, Minnick, who was the council member who initially requested the item on the agenda, stated that citizens were concerned about the current situation surrounding the rentals, but also, council’s position on the applications has seemed inconsistent with no policy in place in commercial areas and they have been considered infrequently, as previously reported by the News-Dispatch.

The moratorium was set for 120 days, bringing it back to council at its March 5, 2026, meeting, ultimately leading to an extension to remain in effect through July 4, 2026.

Now, while the moratorium is still in effect, the STR Committee brought forth several recommendations, as well as a full report with STR history and data, for council’s consideration at its Thursday, May 21, meeting.

There is not a hard number for residential STRs in Wimberley — this is made worse through individual residents who may or may not make their units available for rental at any given time — and some may be dormant for years. According to the report, city records indicate that there are 72 properties that have CUPs qualifying them as STR2s, which are not owner occupied, and 28 as STR1s, or owner occupied; however, they are not all active.

The committee also highlighted the following:

•   26 properties were grandfathered in 2016, allowing them to make STRs without a CUP

•   Eight properties are zoned L1 — lodging for up to 15 units — that do not require a CUP, but are still paying hotel occupancy tax

•   One property is zoned PR1, or participant recreation, that does not require a CUP, but is paying tax

•   70 STRs have paid tax within the last year and have CUPs

•   40 STRs have paid tax within the last year, but do not have CUPs

Hotel occupancy tax collections in the city’s fiscal years of 2024 and 2025 "suggest that the annual contributions to the local gross domestic product [GDP] of short-term rentals were $10.53 million and $10.41 million, respectively. There are no statistics for the gross domestic product of Wimberley, but by extrapolating the calculations of the Federal Reserve of St. Louis for the 2023 per-capita GDP of Hays County to Wimberley’s population of about 2,900, the short-term rental revenue appears to comprise about 7% of the town’s GDP,” the report stated.

However, downsides to residential STRs include parties, beer-drinking, noise and indecency, as well as occupants being out of control and leaving trash everywhere. The more common problems would be parking and trespassing issues — especially on the riverfront — and renters being unable to reach the homeowner or representative during an emergency or malfunction.

Glaiser noted that when he first started in his position as assistant city administrator and Development Services director, he fielded a few complaints in 2020-2022, but since then, he has not received as many related to STRs.

Due to the various reasons laid out in the report, the STR Committee has found that there is an adequate supply of STRs in Wimberley to meet demand, but some of the issues can be alleviated by “modestly restricting the opportunities” for new rentals.

“As far as an occupancy standpoint with hotels, we, the committee, feel like we are at a pretty good place with short-term rentals right now. In other words, we don’t need more of them,” Glaiser said.

This has led the committee to request STR2 be removed for the smaller, single-family zoning categories R2, which are 0.5-2 acres, and R3, which are under 0.5 acre, explained Glaiser. This would ease some issues that occur because of the proximity of R3 lots to each other, along with those that came with septic, parking and overall density, for example.

To compensate for that, he continued, the committee wants to allow for short-term lodging in general for commercial properties.

“Right now, if you have a commercial property — C1, C2, C3, we have some office zoning, things like that — you have to apply [and] get a conditional use permit for a short-term rental or to have any lodging on those properties,” Glaiser said. “The committee recommends that we make it permitted use by right on those properties up to 30 units, so … short-term rentals that are zoned commercial, that’s a permitted use by right. If you were to adopt this, however, for the small lot, single-family residential, you could no longer apply for it.”

Along with the zoning changes, the committee proposed city staff to conduct an annual survey, either by mail or online, of all residential STRs, as well as solicit information on any problems, record all public complaints and report to P&Z on a regular basis.

The committee’s recommended zoning changes will go before P&Z and city council, with the necessary public hearings, for consideration for approval later this month.

This update follows Senate Bill 546, which passed during the state’s 89th Legislative Session and took effect Sept. 1, 2025. It requires all buses that a school district in Texas operates or contracts to be equipped with three-point seat belts, which include a strap over the shoulder to keep passengers from jolting forward during an accident.

The bill instructs districts to report their current bus inventory to the Texas Education Agency by May 29 of this year. Districts must also include a cost estimate for seat belt retrofitting, or adding additional features, in their reporting. All districts are required under SB 546 to reach full compliance by Sept. 1, 2029, with no exemptions.

Scharlach gave a brief overview of past seat belts standards in his presentation, stating, “Prior to 1977 — hard to believe — there were very little to no standards whatsoever on school buses for any safety protocols.”

That changed with the introduction of stricter safety standards by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1977 and the subsequent development of lap belt requirements in some states during the 1980s.

“There had been accidents in which we had a number of students injured and unfortunately passed away because of the lack of safety standards,” said Scharlach, referring to school districts generally, not WISD.

The director of Transportation noted that past studies debated the efficacy of seat belts in preventing injuries, but those against seat belt functionality did not take into account accidents where a bus rolls completely over.

Scharlach stated that when a bus flips and turns, “It is safer for any passenger to stay within that seat. If you are not belted in, you will fly.”

In 2017, SB 693 addressed seat belt usage for the first time in Texas and required buses manufactured after 2018 to have three-point seat belts. However, school districts could still purchase or operate buses made before 2018 that did not have these safety measures. This allowed some districts to cut retrofitting costs and bypass SB 693.

Now, SB 546 sets tighter standards than any previous law, which Scharlach feels will be “pretty effective” in preventing injuries.

Currently, WISD has three buses in its 29-bus fleet that fall short of the new requirements. One bus — a 2010 model — has two-point seat belts and two buses — from 2007 — have no seat belts, according to Scharlach.

“Those three buses without the required seat belt will be sold via auction this summer. We’re going to try to get those sold in June but they are out of service,” Scharlach explained.

WISD also had two buses retrofitted with three-point seat belts and certified last December, amounting to $55,000, which Scharlach said was “well worth our money.” The four buses up for auction could not be retrofitted, due to their age.

“We are in good shape and we will have all our buses in compliance by next school year,” Scharlach closed.

The board of trustees had no questions following the director of Transportation’s presentation, though President Rob Campbell noted that he was “very impressed.”

The Wimberley ISD Board of Trustees will meet next at 6 p.m. Monday, June 15.

This also follows an investigation by Paxton of more than 1,000 municipalities based on Senate Bill 1851, which was passed during the 2025 legislative session. The law bars cities from raising property taxes above the no-new-revenue rate if they do not meet Texas’ financial statement audit and transparency requirements.

The investigation led to the identification of more than 130 cities that failed to comply with the statutory requirements for the new fiscal year, according to the AG's office. Due to this, Paxton notified the cities, including Wimberley, that they are subject to the enforcement provisions and penalties established under SB 1851 and may not adopt property tax increases above the no-new-revenue rate.

Wimberley is one of few cities in Texas that does not levy an ad valorem tax, meaning that it does not collect a property tax from residents and it has set a rate of $0.00 since its incorporation.

According to Wimberley city administrator Tim Patek, the city provided the AG with an email that referenced the determination letter received, noting that the city’s fiscal year 2025 audit report had not been complete at the time of the office’s original request of April 8. The audit — which received an unqualified or clean opinion — was recently finalized and presented to city council at its May 7 meeting.

“Senate Bill 1851 requires municipalities to submit their annual audits within 180 days following the close of the fiscal year. However, because the city of Wimberley does not levy a local property tax, our auditors completed our audit after finalizing audits for other municipalities that do assess property taxes,” Patek said. “I provided them with our Audit Report and stated I hope this satisfies their request and brings us into compliance.”

Patek said that the city has not received any further correspondence back from the AG's office.

The AG's office stated that the letters were sent to an initial list of non-compliant cities and the investigation remains ongoing. Additional action could still occur.

The city of Wimberley’s audit reports can be viewed at bit.ly/42LlVRw. To find more information about the letters sent by the AG office, visit www.texasattorneygeneral.gov

WIMBERLEY — Several community members have been outspoken against local theatre nonprofit Wimberley Players’ decision to name Karin Cunningham as the producer in an upcoming summer production, following her alleged defense of registered sex offender Robby Vance, who previously was involved with the organization.

The worry began in August 2023, when Donna Provencher, an actor and director in the local theatre community, raised concerns about sexual assault allegations against Vance to Wimberley Players’ leadership.

According to Travis County court records, Vance was charged with: indecency with a child by exposure, a third-degree felony; sexual assault of a child, a second-degree felony; three counts of indedency with a child by sexual contact, a second-degree felony; and continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 years old, a first-degree felony in 2022. Following these charges, he was sentenced to probation with community supervision and required to join the public sex offender registry Aug. 24, 2022, with a projected registration until 2037.  A motion to revoke probation was denied for Vance in April 2026.

Vance initially began at Wimberley Players in 2023, where he participated in various productions as a cast or crew member and later as an employee.

Despite Provencher’s knowledge of the allegations against Vance, she was initially unaware of the extent of his history.

“I wasn't aware of any [charges] that involved children at the time,” said Provencher. “I did not make a report because I wasn't aware of him being on the sex offender registry. I wasn't aware of him having any probationary conditions or anything along those lines.”

Although she was aware of at least two board members who were notified,  she felt that Wimberley Players’ leadership, including then-executive director Trish Rigdon, then-co artistic chair Danny Mosier and current artistic chair Roxanne Strobel, minimized the concerns, as she claimed that she received troubling and dismissive remarks and there was not a “meaningful investigation” that followed.

Provencher continued to voice this unease, sharing that she refused to cast Vance in her 2024 production of “Legally Blonde,” believing that he posed a safety risk.

Despite these incidents, Vance continued to work on two productions at the theater in late 2023 and 2024 in close proximity to minors; most recently in the 2024 show “Miracle on 34th Street,” where he worked as the music director.

It was during this time that Vance’s status on the sex offender registry came to light. Although parents and community members shared their apprehension, Cunningham — director of the “Miracle on 34th Street” production — allegedly defended him in a letter in November 2024 to cast, crew and parents:

“I want to talk about the bombshell that was dropped (against my wishes) last night. It broke my heart to have our beautiful experience thus far marred by such an ugly revelation. Since nothing happened and I was able to remove the problem quickly and without incident, I felt the notification could have waited until the show closed. Also, please rest assured that despite my close relationship with [Vance] and the fact that so many of the [Wimberley Players] family knew — I did NOT.  That being said, now that I DO know about it and ALL the extenuating circumstances, I believe no one was ever in any danger whatsoever. Believe me as an assault victim myself who raised two sons, I would be the first [to] blow all the whistles if I believed you or your children were [in danger]. It is my sincere wish that we can ALL put this behind us and finish out our amazing show run,” said Cunningham’s letter.

This same month, Provencher met with three board members regarding her report against Vance that had gone uninvestigated. She stated that she was “repeatedly reassured” during the meeting that the Wimberley Players would be making meaningful changes, such as informing the parents of the situation. Board members also informed Provencher that Cunningham would be encouraged to step down, due to her resistance to inform parents and “mismanagement of the situation," she recalled.

Given these reassurances, Provencher accepted a position as marketing chair on the board in March 2025.

Vance was ultimately removed from the production, following verification of his status on the sex offender registry, and prohibited from further involvement with the theatre, though no further report was made to the police.

As of April 2026, the Comal County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the allegations of probation violation that occurred during Vance’s time with the Wimberley Players, following his re-arrest for failure to comply with sex offender registry reporting requirements.

According to current board president Cynthia Millonzi, the board was unaware of Vance’s restrictions of probation and community supervision. However, cast member Taylor Lueckenotte claimed that the organization did have these documents in 2024.

Beginning with productions following the 2024 incident, the Wimberley Players implemented mandatory criminal background checks and screening of cast members and staff against the sex offender registry, explained Millonzi and board vice president Dan Pickens. Additionally, production participants are briefed on reporting procedures and the organization engages an independent third-party investigator for situations that involve allegations of sexual misconduct or bullying.

“The Wimberley Players remains committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all participants and patrons. Registered sex offenders are legally required to disclose their status to employers; in this case, that disclosure did not occur,” stated Millonzi and Pickens. “Upon learning of the situation, the board acted promptly and has continued to review and strengthen policies and procedures designed to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring in the future.”

Provencher contends that, to her knowledge, she was never background checked.

While Cunningham resigned from her position on the board in 2024, she remained in her director role of production on "Miracle on 34th Street,” according to Millonzi. Now, she has been named the producer for the upcoming summer show, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” to the uproar of community members. One of which is Provencher, who shared that Cunningham has also been reinstated to the artistic team.

“The same institution is reinstating into a forward-facing authority role, [Cunningham], who publicly told families and cast members there were ‘extenuating circumstances’ for what appeared on Robby Vance’s record, insisted no children had ever been in danger and opposed informing parents of the risk at all. She also fought against replacing [his wife], the stage manager who lied to the theater,” said Provencher in a letter to the board.

After being asked to provide relevant legal statutes regarding public concern and reporting considerations for her apprehension about reinstating Cunningham, Provencher alleged that she was told to stop and was discouraged from continuing the conversation. Then, on May 3, she was summoned to an executive committee meeting without having "meaningful information about the nature” of it, despite requiring ADA accommodations.

It was at this time that she concluded that she couldn’t serve within an organization that would handle those speaking up and raising objections in the way it did, causing her to submit her resignation letter the same day and then, a subsequent complaint to the Charitable Trusts Division of the Texas Attorney General's Office Monday, May 18.

Others — including Robert Moritz, a cast member in the “Miracle on 34th Street” production, and Lueckenotte — have been outspoken against Cunningham being reinstated, simply due to the safety of those involved in the productions.

“Hearing that she is involved with the upcoming production of ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ was quite a surprise. I'm disappointed in the theatre's rehiring of Mrs. Cunningham. The most primary concern of any organization, like a theatre, should be the safety of those participating in their productions,” Moritz said. “Mrs. Cunningham had a responsibility to protect the members of the Miracle on 34th Street production. She did not do so. She is a very nice person, but I would not trust her to act if a similar situation presented itself. For that one reason, I do not believe she should be in charge in any way of any production.”

Lueckenotte noted on a social media post — as the community outcry has been widely spread — that “defending those who prey on the most vulnerable in our society is indefensible.”

Pickens stated that the board has no involvement in Cunningham’s position as producer, since the artistic team, which she is now a part of, makes these decisions.

The artistic team did not respond to request for comment.

At approximately 11:03 p.m. Thursday, April 30, a Cessna 421C airplane, N291AN, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in a wooded area near a private residence near Wimberley, stated the report. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured on the personal flight.

The report detailed that the airplane had departed River Falls Airport in Amarillo at approximately 9:10 p.m. and received an instrument flight rules clearance to New Braunfels National Airport. While en route, the pilot reported to Houston Center that his pitot heat was inoperative and requested an altitude check, which the controller provided.

The pilot reported other issues with Austin Approach control during the flight, noting that the pitot tube had iced over and was having to use backup gauges, leading him to want to get to a lower altitude to warm back up.

Then, at 10:59 p.m., the controller provided a radio frequency change, which the pilot acknowledged and no further radio transmissions were made by the pilot. Shortly after the pilot’s last radio transmission, flight tracking data showed the airplane turned left, made a near 180-degree right turn and maneuvered to the south followed by a descending right turn. The last signal was reported at approximately 11:02 p.m., right before the crash.

According to the NTSB report, a homeowner heard the crash, saw the wreckage — which totaled about 1.25 miles — on fire and notified first responders. The airplane was destroyed by the crash and retained for further examination. It was later determined that the distribution of the wreckage was consistent with an "inflight breakup."

Preliminary weather information found that during the last 15 minutes of the accident flight, the airplane flew just above freezing with temperatures between minus 2 and minus 6 degrees Celsius. The report stated that models showed the potential for icing with moderate accumulation rates and the supercooled large droplets.

The pilot received his private pilot certificate for single engine land Feb. 3, 2025, instrument airplane rating June 9, 2025 and multi-engine land rating July 9, 2025, according to documents on file with the Federal Aviation Administration.

The NTSB report is preliminary and subject to change. The report can be found at bit.ly/42B5VRY. 

The first permit is for a food service trailer, located in the parking lot of Blanco Brew, at 14200 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley, for a term of one year. Previously, the food truck was operated as Saucy Bros, but will now be Hays Co Burgers Y Mas.

“Their permit expired a few weeks ago and they want to get a new truck in there,” explained Nathan Glaiser, director of development services.

The truck is permitted by the Hays County Health Department and is compliant with the city’s temporary structure regulations, which includes parking and access to restrooms. The owner of the Blanco Brew property is also aware of the change, Glaiser said.

This also follows a presentation given at the April 16 meeting regarding new legislative changes — House Bill 2844 and Chapter 437B being added to the Health and Safety Code — that would impact the regulation of these types of establishments and vendors. Knowing that the city’s current section on temporary structures in its code of ordinances would not be consistent with state law, when it goes into effect July 1, council member Chris Sheffield asked if this permit would be one of the first with the new policy.

“No, this is still operating under our current permitting structure, where it’s a one-off temporary structure permit and it comes to you all for approval,” Glaiser responded. “In the future, they would not need a permit for this; they would just need to register following the regulations I showed you all last month. They would just need to register with the city and we would check and make sure that they have their food permit from the state.”

The permit was unanimously approved by council.

Next, council unanimously approved another one-year temporary structure permit  for a mobile food truck at 14306 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley, which is in the parking lot of the Wash Day Laundry - Wimberley laundromat. Currently, Kelly’s Hill Country BBQ and Rositas food trucks are operating at the site; however, this would occupy the space that is currently utilized by Rosita’s, as they will move further down the parking lot.

“They have restroom access at the laundromat. They share hours there. They are open quite a bit and they have over 100 parking spaces there, so they have more than enough room for parking,” Glaiser said.

Council member Rebecca Minnick asked if the city is still looking at doing some zoning changes in order for food trucks to not be in various different places, but rather in a more concentrated area.

Referencing back to the new legislation, Glaiser said that staff will propose to council in June a conditional use permit for food courts. So, for a property that has more than one food truck would come through the process “where it goes through [the] Planning & Zoning [Commission] and then, you all have the site plan and approve it as part of the zoning code,” he explained.

Also during the meeting, council authorized the submission of an application to the TWDB under the Water Supply and Infrastructure Grant Program.

The request would be for up to $10 million in 100% grant funding to support land acquisition for alternative well sites, as well as related planning activities, to improve long-term water supply reliability. According to the city, the project is also based on prior engineering studies identifying a viable alternative water source — as the Trinity Aquifer is currently under severe stress — and will address ongoing drought vulnerability and infrastructure limitations.

“It’s to help conserve property around here to where it wouldn’t be developed and help conserve water and those types of things,” explained city administrator Tim Patek.

The Wimberley Watershed Association, Hill Country Conservancy, Nature Conservancy and other groups “are doing everything — they are applying for the grants, they are writing the grants,” Minnick noted.

The properties that will be pursued are unknown at this time, but the first step is needing a city partner for applying for the grant, Minnick said.

Council unanimously approved the authorization for the city to apply for the grant.

To view the full meetings and agendas, visit www.wimberleytx.portal.civicclerk.com.