PRESENTER: Presenter
Amy Niles, River and Watershed Manager
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of the first reading of an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 86, Section 86-4 to prohibit public entry to the Comal River Old Channel from City owned property.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Districts 3 and 5
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of New Braunfels has a requirement through the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan to prohibit river access along the protected Comal River Old Channel. The current ordinance only prohibits entrance to the Old Channel from the Landa Park Golf Course, but does not cover access from Landa Park, Hinman Island Park, or Prince Solms Park. There has been an increase in recent activity with people entering the Old Channel from Hinman Island Park and Prince Solms Park because of recent invasive tree removal, making the channel more visible and seemingly accessible to the public. The lack of ordinance coverage at this location was recently discovered. Expanding the ordinance to prohibit access to the Old Channel of the Comal River from all city-owned property would aid in the protection of the endangered species habitat that is present in the Old Channel. This proposed ordinance revision would prohibit access to the Comal River Old Channel from all City owned property and would aid with enforcement. It should be noted that the Spring Fed Pool is not considered the Old Channel of the Comal and would not be impacted by this proposed ordinance change.
ISSUE:
The Old Channel of the Comal River is required to be protected from public access and the City’s current code of ordinances has a gap in coverage.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
New signage will be needed but existing signage funding is available in the River Activities Fund budget.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommend approving ordinance revision to prohibit public access to the Old Channel of the Comal River from City-owned property.