Since the beginning of August, the City of New Braunfels has been seeking applications from residents to serve on 13 different boards and commissions that have appointments coming up this Fall. This is an important opportunity for residents to become more involved in their community by giving them a way to provide direct feedback and direction to City Council. Volunteering your time and energy to serve on a City board or commission gives residents a direct voice in the future of the City.
Boards such as the Animal Services Advisory Board, the Building Standards Commission, the Community Development Advisory Committee, the Landa Park Golf Course Advisory Board, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the River Advisory Committee, and the Workforce Housing Advisory Committee all have upcoming vacancies that will need to be filled. Applications are due by September 30th, 2024, and appointments reaching expiration under the Fall term will end November 30th each year, with the new appointment beginning on December 1st.
Prior to serving as Mayor, I had the opportunity to serve as a member of both the Building Standards Commission and the New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation. Every meeting was a chance to learn and potentially improve our city and the lives of those that live in it. Being a member of a board or commission allows you to learn more about the various tasks that local government works on day to day, and work hand in hand with City staff to provide recommendations on how our city should be shaped.
Every board is important and serves a unique purpose. Some boards, like the Bond Advisory Committee, only come around whenever the city is tackling a specific task. Other boards need to always have members ready to provide their opinions and recommendations to City Council. Some boards meet monthly, while others may only meet twice a year. Whatever your schedule allows, there is likely a board or commission that will work for you.
It's also important to note that some boards and commissions have different eligibility requirements, and each application is reviewed to ensure those are met. Specialized experience is needed for some of these boards, but not all of them. Some boards only require you be a resident to serve and some boards only require that you live in the ETJ. Those who are appointed to serve on a board or commission will then be required to complete one hour of training on the Texas Open Meetings Act.
All the boards and commissions can be found on the City of New Braunfels website. You can find a detailed description about each committee, including eligibility requirements, as well as an easy-to-use online application at www.newbraunfels.gov/apply.
Applications for the Fall appointments will close on September 30th, but there will be another round of applications for the other boards and commissions in the Spring! This bi-annual process happens every year at the same time, so if you aren’t able to apply now, keep your eye out in the future!
Boards and commissions play a crucial role in the governance and development of New Braunfels. The City Council does not have the time or resources to handle every decision a city must make. By creating boards and commissions, the City Council delegates some decision making authority and seeks input from people in the community. Serving on a board or commission allows a unique opportunity to both learn about the City and be involved in the decision making process. The meetings of boards and commissions are open meetings so they also offer additional opportunities for the public to engage and see how the City operates. Boards and commissions are essential for informed decision-making, community involvement, and effective management of city resources and services.
I hope that everyone takes an opportunity to look at these openings and see how they can fit in. If you have any questions, reach out to the City Secretary’s office at 830-221-4000 or email nbcitysecretary@newbraunfels.gov. I look forward to seeing the applications this Fall and welcoming our new board and commission members in November.
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Mayor Neal Linnartz