One year ago, in April of 2024, City Council adopted the City’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan using feedback and input from the residents of New Braunfels. The Strategic Plan is a roadmap that guides our city toward a prosperous and sustainable future. This is not just a document that sits on a shelf gathering dust. Since its adoption on year ago, City Council and City staff have been working to implement the key initiatives outlined in the plan, and I wanted to provide an update on that progress.
As a quick overview, the Strategic Plan set out 39 objectives and 62 performance measures focusing on five strategic priorities (this is a very brief summary):
- Economic Mobility
- Enhanced Connectivity
- Community Identity
- Organizational Excellence
- Community Wellbeing
I’m happy to report that, currently, 38 of the 39 objectives are in progress and, of the 62 performance measures outlined in the Strategic Plan, 44 are currently in progress, two have been fully completed, and 14 are considered pending. Here is an example from one objective within each strategic priority on the progress made so far:
Economic Mobility
The City of New Braunfels is actively exploring ways to leverage public and private sector funding to support the development and preservation of affordable workforce housing. Efforts are underway to advance the West End Masterplan, which may include a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) and financial incentives to drive investment, while addressing housing needs in this important area of our community. Additionally, discussions are in progress regarding the creation of empowerment zones within the West End area that would encourage affordable housing and commercial redevelopment.
Enhanced Connectivity
The City is committed to enhancing its transportation network to better serve all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and motorists. Significant investments are being made to improve connectivity, such as filling sidewalk gaps through the Park Development Fund and advancing key trail and sidewalk projects with funding from the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO), the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation (NBEDC), TIRZ #1, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Additionally, the NBEDC has supported a feasibility study for the Dry Comal Creek Trail. Further, a combination of NBEDC and 2023 Bond funds is driving citywide pedestrian improvements. These efforts ensure a safer, more accessible, and well-connected community for all.
Community Identity
The City also continues to look for opportunities to engage and promote the local arts and culture scene through programming and partnerships. The newly established Art Haus provides a dedicated space for local artists, complementing the First Friday events in Downtown. The New Braunfels Public Library has partnered with the New Braunfels Photographic Society to offer free photography classes for children and teens, while also collaborating with the Parks and Recreation Department to provide year-round arts and cultural programming for all ages.
Organizational Excellence
The City continues to enhance its recruitment strategy to attract high-quality candidates and build the next generation of public servants. In preparation for the transition to the City’s new HR and Finance software system, job descriptions are being updated to better reflect the City’s culture, core values, and total rewards program, which helps candidates see how they align with each position. This software will also allow interested individuals to register as prospects for future opportunities, and keep candidates engaged with real-time status updates. Additionally, the HR team is collaborating with the Communications Department to launch a marketing campaign, showcasing the varied career opportunities within the City, and emphasizing the meaningful impact of public service.
Community Well-Being
The City of New Braunfels continues to strengthen its collaboration between Police, Fire, and the non-profit and social service sectors. The Fire Chief has been appointed to the New Braunfels Police Chief’s Advisory Board, a group of community stakeholders focused on addressing public concerns and key issues. To improve engagement, the board now meets quarterly instead of annually. Additionally, NBPD staff actively participate in various local boards, including the Child Advocacy Center, New Braunfels Youth Collaborative, and NBISD DEIC and Disciplinary Board, as well as county mental health stakeholder meetings. These efforts reflect the City’s commitment to a holistic approach to public safety, ensuring ongoing dialogue and collaboration with key community partners.
As you can see, there’s a lot of work underway to meet the goals set out by the Strategic Plan...and more work to be done. Be on the lookout for additional updates, and to learn more about the Strategic Plan and the City’s priorities visit www.newbraunfels.gov/strategicplan.
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Mayor Neal Linnartz