City council adjusts lighting policies, addresses marshal position
The Bandera Council City voted last week to amend an ordinance to allow electronic signs and also voted to abate enforcement of an outdoor lighting ordinance for six months.
Council voted to amend Article 3.09 Signs of Ordinance 419, Chapter 3 Building Regulations to allow changeable electronic variable message signs (CVEMS) in certain places.
In the vote, Councilwoman Christine Morse was the sole vote against. .
The council voted unanimously to abate section 3.08.015 Enforcement of the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance 420, Chapter 3.08 for 180 days.
During the six-month period, the council will review and possibly amend the provisions of the chapter.
In discussion of the City Marshal committee formed to vet the current applicants, committee chair and city councilman Jeff Flowers said that he was uncertain whether a new city marshal would be in place by the end of Interim Marshal Rusty Pancoast’s appointment, which is February 3.
According to Flowers, the committee’s first formal meeting was Jan. 5, where approximately 11 applicants were scored and vetted.
After the committee provides its recommendation, City Administrator William Cox will need to process the applicant through additional procedural measures.
An update from the committee will be provided at the City Council’s next regular meeting on Jan. 17.
In other business, council unanimously granted the 11th Street Cowboy Bar a 3.5 ft variance from the fivefoot minimum distance required for setback for property zoned P-4 Neighborhood Mixed.
Council also granted a street closure for February’s Cowboy Mardi Gras. The street area that will be closed starts at the intersection of Main and Cedar, extending to Arkey Blue’s parking lot.
They also approved Resolution 2022-029, authorizing the closure of seven bank accounts at Bandera Bank.
Mayor Rebeca Gibson attended to the issue of an over-capacity at City Hall and the need for a new permanent location to accommodate everyone.
Per Gibson, City Administrator William Cox will look for alternate locations, the final decision regarding which will be made by Bandera City Council’s approval.
Cox addressed the need for a workshop to discuss varying issues on which new city council members campaigned. A workshop was set for Jan. 28 at 10:00 am.