The City of Boerne held a neighborhood presentation on Thursday, Sept. 5 to provide local stakeholders with important updates on City projects, code enforcement, water restrictions, and other community matters.
The first-of-its-kind meeting was organized by the City’s Communications Department and City Manager’s Office. It was hosted at City Hall and brought together 20 representatives from a dozen neighborhood associations to foster a collaborative relationship between residents and the City.
“This meeting will serve as a blueprint for how we approach similar presentations going forward,” Communications Director Chris Shadrock said. “It’s essential that we continue our communication to ensure everyone is informed and engaged.”
The presentation covered several key topics, including updates on bond projects, improvements to the Unified Development Code, permitting processes, oak wilt prevention, and strategies for water conservation and code enforcement. Staff from the Permitting and Code Compliance, Police, and Planning departments were able to directly address questions and issues.
In helping plan for the meeting, Shadrock said one of the key goals was to rethink the traditional “town hall” style meeting.
“One of the approaches to planning this meeting, and one that will be utilized in the future, is smaller, more intimate gatherings,” Shadrock said. “Our neighborhoods are as unique as we are and being able to address issues in a more personalized manner is what we want to provide to our neighbors.”
City Manager Ben Thatcher echoed Shadrock’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of listening to the concerns of residents and maintaining a two-way dialogue.
“Being engaged with our residents is crucial to the success of our City,” Thatcher said. “These meetings give us an opportunity to hear directly from the community and ensure that we’re addressing their needs while maintaining our exemplary Hill Country community that defines Boerne.”
