City plans property purchase for added parking, restroom

The city of Wimberley has property under contract just off the Wimberley Square with the intent to significantly expand public parking and add a public bathroom.

The city currently owns the public parking lot on Oak Drive furthest from the Square, but it leases the property on the adjacent lot closer to the Square with additional public parking.

That parking lot, along with the house and open field on Oak Drive closer to the Square, was recently put up for sale.

“The land we have been able to lease (for public parking) for many years was going to be sold imminently,” Wimberley Mayor Gina Fulkerson said. “They put it out for anyone to bid on, and that would have been an opportunity, something we have been counting on for a long time for our businesses, that would have been lost. We felt like it was urgent.”

The price for the .75- acre property will not be disclosed until the sale has closed, which is contingent on the city approving a financing mechanism. The city also has preliminary plans for public parking improvements, an ADA-compliant sidewalk and a public restroom design. According to Councilmember Rebecca Minnick, the improvements would redesign the current layout of the public parking lot and add additional parking spaces for a total of around 160 as well as facilitate the construction of a public restroom. The permanent restroom facility would have six stalls, A/C and heat and would be located 200 feet down Oak Drive, which is closer to the Square than previously planned prior to the potential property purchase. The restroom will also include a visitor’s “kiosk” with maps and information about the city’s downtown area and a “selfie spot” highlighting a vintage water tank. The name of the facility will include the longtime former property owners, the Calkins family, who have worked so closely with the city to make this project a reality.

The plans have been previously discussed by the council but need to be adjusted for the potential purchase of property. The plans would also still need council approval.

“This is going to be a game changer,” Councilmember Rebecca Minnick said. “It is really going to clean everything up down there. Part of the project includes ADA-compliant sidewalks. It will be easier for visitors and locals alike.”

The contract for the property is pending on the approval of financing. The city council heard a presentation on a potential financing option for around $800,000, which was stated in the meeting to be a potential budget for the entire project. If approved, the city would issue tax notes for a loan that would be paid back over seven years. This is the same process the city used in 2013 to finance $650,000 in design costs for the city sewer system. The process guarantees the loans with tax dollars, and therefore requires an ad valorem tax be created. However, it does not require the city to collect a tax. The 2013 tax notes were paid for without raising the tax rate from zero percent. The city stated it intends to do the same if the tax notes are approved.

“Staff is not recommending we implement any type of tax,” City Administrator Mike Boese said. “We will be budgeting from current revenues sources the ability to pay this note.”

The presentation estimated that payments would be around $125,000 per year for seven years. It was stated during the meeting that the new restroom would alleviate the need for the restroom trailers that are downtown, which would save the city $30,000 per year in recurring maintenance.

The city council is expected to hear and potentially take action on the proposed tax notes during the May 20 regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. at Wimberley City Hall. Last week, the council held the first in-person council meeting at city hall since meetings became virtual at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.