12951 Bandera Rd. (Physical)P.O. Box 507 (Mailing)Helotes, Texas 78023 -0507(210) 695-8877 www.helotestexas.org

C i t y N e w s l e t t e r - W i n t e r 2 0 1 6

C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S

December

2 - Ligh ng of the Lights, Band Concert & Santa City Hall 6 - 9 pm

3 - MarketPlace @ Old Town Helotes 1st Sat. of the Month - helotesmarketplace.com 10 am - 5 pm

10 - Christmas Market & Lighted Parade Old Town Helotes 3 - 8:30 pm - Parade Starts at 7 pm

12 - Helotes Area Community Band Christmas Concert Northminster Presbyterian Church 7 pm

17 - Helotes Area Community Band Christmas Concert Forest Hills Presbyterian Church 7 pm

A Message From Mayor SchoolcraftA Message From Mayor Schoolcraft

C O N T A C T I N F O R M A T I O N

In case of emergency, dial 911.Non-emergency telephone number 210.695.2500

Mayor Thomas A. Schoolcra 210.695.5912City Administrator 210.695.5913Fire Chief 210.695.5935Police Chief 210.695.5918City Secretary 210.695.5911Building Permits 210.695.5905Finance / Accoun ng 210.695.5915Economic Development 210.695.5910Special Events 210.695.5916Municipal Court 210.695.4472Human Resources 210.695.5901Police Department 210.695.3087Fire Department 210.695.3572Public Works / Animal Control 210.695.5909Code Enforcement 210.695.5908

2017 Capital Improvement Projects / Activities:

• French Creek Natural Waterway Conveyance • F.M. 1560 Bridge • S.H. 16 Water and Sewer Utilities • F.M. 1560 Intersection Realignment • Hausman Rd. Expansion • Cedar Trail Culvert Enlargement • Street Maintenance Sales Tax • Bexar County Hazard Mitigation Plan

Th e Winter 2016 Newsletter is dedicated to the 2017 commencement of capital improvement projects throughout the City of Helotes. Since 2007, Elected Offi cials and Staff have worked tirelessly with numerous organizations - such as Bexar County, San Antonio River Authority, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and others - to secure funding, complete design, and ensure construction of utility, drainage, and traffi c improvements within the City. While we have learned to be patient and that delays are common and part of this process, 2017 will be the year of implementation! Th ankfully, the City has been able to ensure completion of many of the capital improvement projects at little or no cost to the Helotes Taxpayer. Please forgive the dust and inconveniences as we enter this exciting and productive time for our City.

As we get ready to say goodbye to 2016, we are looking forward to what should be a busy and exciting 2017. Several major construction projects are scheduled to break ground, and we should see a number of new businesses either start construction or open their doors to bring new shopping and service venues to Helotes. A list of the anticipated street and drainage projects can be found in this newsletter or on our City website at www.helotes-tx.gov.

Our new fi scal year started in October with a balanced budget that allows each Department the necessary funding for equipment, technological support, and to provide the services we all expect from the City. Our philosophy through the years has been to be as frugal as pos-sible, while maintaining a high level of service from all of our Departments, especially our Police, Fire, EMS, Dispatch, and Public Works Departments. Our City employees are hard

working and dedicated to keeping us safe and making Helotes a great place to live.

We look forward to a very busy and productive year, but will still plan to have fun with our community events, including the Cornyval Parade, Movie Nights at the Park, MarketPlace at Old Town Helotes, and band concerts by our Helotes Area Community Band. And don't forget the recreational opportunities we have available at the City Park Playground at City Hall, the Helotes Natural Area and Disc Golf Course, and our Helotes Fitness Park.

Be sure to check the list of events for December, including our Lighting of the Lights ceremony with Santa and Mrs. Clause, the Lighted Christmas Parade in Old Town, and two Christmas concerts.

Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!!Elected Offi cial Contact Information:

Mayor Tom Schoolcraft , mayor@helotes-tx.govMayor Pro Tem Alex Blue, ablue@helotes-tx.gov

Councilmember Ed Villanueva, evillanueva@helotes-tx.govCouncilmember Cynthia Massey, cmassey@helotes-tx.gov

Councilmember Paul Friedrichs, pfriedrichs@helotes-tx.govCouncilmember Bert Buys, bbuys@helotes-tx.gov

Stormwater Management & Flooding

Utilities & Economic Development

Traffi c Decongestion

Street Maintenance & Hazard Mitigation

FRENCH CREEK NATURAL WATERWAY CONVEYANCE PROJECTTh is project will remove approximately 40 homes from the 100-year fl oodplain and improve culverts in the Evans Valley Subdivision and at the intersection of Diamond K and Bar X Trail. Th is project will utilize natural channel design elements to make improvements to French Creek and associated tributaries to remove homes in the Cedar Springs and Evans Valley Subdivisions from the fl oodplain. Th e estimated construction start date is February or March 2017, and construction should take ap-proximately 1 year. Th is $5 million (est.) project will be completed by Bexar County at no cost to the City.

CEDAR TRAIL CULVERT ENLARGEMENT PROJECTAnother TxDOT project will enlarge the existing culvert near the intersection of Cedar Trail and Bandera Road. Th e goal of the project is to reduce fl ooding hazards near the intersection, particularly the elimination of fl ood waters that overtop Ban-dera Road during signifi cant rain events. Th e City completed a Hydrologic and Hy-draulic Analysis for the culvert that analyzed existing and proposed conditions both up and downstream from the culvert. Construction funding - approx. $1.3 million - has been programmed by TxDOT for August 2018 through September 2019.

S.H. 16 WATER & SEWER LINE CONSTRUCTION In 2008, the City of Helotes Economic Development Corporation commissioned a Preliminary Engineer Study for Proposed Water and Sanitary Sewer Lines along

Bandera Road between Circle A Trail and Scenic Loop Road. Th e goal of the project is to bring new business development north of Circle A Trail and allow

the addition of fi re hydrants along Helotes' major commercial corridor.

In December 2013, LNV Engineering was awarded a contract to complete all en-gineering phases for the project, including the creation of a full set of construc-

tion documents. Project design is completed, and TxDOT is reviewing the fi nal plan documents. Th e project is expected to bid and construction start in early

2017. Th e estimated project cost is $3.06 million.

HAUSMAN ROAD EXPANSION PROJECTTxDOT will expand Hausman Rd. from Bandera Rd. to Loop 1604. Hausman will be expanded from two to four lanes, including six foot sidewalks, center turn lanes, and bike lanes. Th e $13.8 million construc-tion project is expected to start in late spring / early summer 2017.

F.M. 1560 INTERSECTION REALIGNMENT PROJECTIn March 2008, the City of Helotes Economic Development Corporation commissioned a traffi c study through Pape-Daw-son Engineers to recommend alternative intersection alignments for the area near F.M. 1560 and Circle A Trail. Th e City recognized that commuter delay and congestion in the morning and evening time periods was increasing, particularly with the development of new subdivisions along F.M. 1560 toward Culebra Rd.

In 2012, the City submitted the proposed realign-ment project to the San Antonio-Bexar County

Metropolitan Planning Organization for funding, and, in March 2013, the City received notice that approximately $1.3 million had been awarded for

the project.

TxDOT has completed right of way acquisition for the project, and the City expects construction

to begin in late spring / early summer 2017. Total estimated construction cost is $5 million.

See schematic to the left .

STREET MAINTENANCE SALES TAXIn November 2015, Helotes voters authorized an additional 1/4 cent sales tax for street maintenance purposes. Th e City started receiving tax payments from the State Comptroller in April 2016, and we created a separate fund for street main-tenance sales tax collections. We estimate collections of approx. $300,000 annually; however, it takes several months for enough money to accumulate to tackle larger and much needed street projects.

In the interim, the Public Works Department has been assessing the condition of existing streets, cataloging all culverts, street signs, and pavement markings, and preparing bid documents to improve streets throughout the City over a 4 year period. We anticipate initiating Plan Year One work in early 2017.

BEXAR COUNTY HAZARD MITIGATION PLANTh e City of Helotes is participating in the Bexar County Hazard Mitigation Plan to identify hazards throughout the commu-nity and, ultimately, secure funding and completion of the following projects. Headed by the Fire and Public Works Depts., San Antonio River Authority has assisted us in the completion of preliminary engineering and cost estimates for: • Scenic Loop Rd. - Automatic Flood Gates • Antonio Dr. - Low Water Crossing • Parrigin / Indian Trl. Low Water Crossing • F.M. 1560 / Doheny Drainage Culvert • Braun Rd. / Leslie Rd. Drainage Culvert

Th e City will continue to work with a variety of agencies to ensure the projects are completed in a timely manner.

F.M. 1560 BRIDGE PROJECTTxDOT will construct a new fl ood control bridge along F.M. 1560 between Alta Loma and

Saltillo Flat. Th e existing culvert is undersized and allows fl ood water to top F.M. 1560 during even moderate rain events. Th e bridge crossing will lower the up and downstream

water surface elevations and fl oodplain widths, resulting in an all-weather crossing capable of managing a 500-year storm event. Th e City approved a formal agreement with TxDOT

on the project on September 25, 2014 whereby TxDOT agreed to fund and construct the project with a $300,000 match from the City of Helotes. Total project construction cost is

$2.7 million (est.). Th e estimated construction start date is late spring / early summer 2017.