In place of its regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, the Boerne City Council gathered for its annual Winter Workshop, focusing on long-term planning, transportation safety, and early discussions for the upcoming fiscal year budget.
Presentations were given by Engineering and Mobility Director Jeff Carroll and Finance Director Sarah Buckelew, who outlined strategic initiatives and priorities that will shape the City’s direction in the months ahead.
A recording of Winter Workshop meeting is available on the City’s website.
Targeted Safety Improvements Backed by Data
Carroll updated council members on the progress of the City’s federally funded Safe Streets for All (SS4A) program. The initiative brought together stakeholders from the City, Kendall County, Boerne ISD, and downtown business owners to identify safety improvements along key corridors, including River Road and Main Street.
The study found that 73 percent of all crashes in Boerne occur on just 15 percent of roadways. While auto-pedestrian crashes account for only one percent of total crashes, they represent 25 percent of all fatal and serious injury crashes.
Several high-traffic intersections were identified for targeted improvements, including:
- River Road and Plant Street
- Herff Road and River Road
- Main Street and River Road
- Main Street and School Street (Five Points)
- South Main Street and West Bandera Road
- Esser Road and the Boerne High School driveway
- Cascade Caverns Road and Scenic Loop
- South Main Street and Kronkosky Street
- Johns Road and School Street
Key corridors highlighted for focused attention include South Main Street, Main Plaza, River Road and West Bandera Road.
“We have already been talking about these intersections and needed issues to look at, but it’s nice to have the data to back it up,” Carroll said.
Carroll emphasized that the City’s approach is strategy-based and grounded in national best practices. Proposed solutions would focus investments where risk is highest and rely on proven countermeasures endorsed by the Federal Highway Administration.
The plan aligns with SS4A principles, Vision Zero goals, and the Safe System Approach, prioritizing designs that reduce serious crashes rather than simply addressing traffic flow.
The strategy does not call for redesigning every street, but instead targets high-risk areas based on data analysis.
Once the SS4A comprehensive safety plan is approved by City Council this spring, the City will be eligible to apply for federal implementation grants as early as summer 2026.
Early Budget Planning Underway
Buckelew then launched early discussions for the fiscal year 2026-27 budget process, which will begin in the coming weeks.
Among the considerations for the upcoming year is the potential creation of an Equipment Replacement Fund implementation plan to address large capital purchases. The City is also evaluating possible debt issuances to fund infrastructure needs within the Boerne Utilities Natural Gas Division and the City’s stormwater utility.
With the opening of Northside Community Park, Buckelew noted the City continues to prepare for the operational and maintenance impacts associated with managing its newest signature park.
She asked council members to reflect on last year’s budget process, posing several questions: What worked well? Where could the process improve? And what specific considerations should be incorporated into this year’s budget planning?
Council provided their feedback and said they appreciated the current cadence of updates and timelines.
Strategic Reflection Exercise
The workshop concluded with a forward-looking reflection exercise led by City Manager Ben Thatcher and council members. The discussion encouraged leaders to evaluate the City’s current performance, identify emerging issues, and outline priorities they would like to guide in the coming year.
In the weeks ahead, the City Manager’s Office will compile council feedback and present a summary at a future City Council meeting.
