Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 10

44 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 10 Along with education, Cibolo’s infrastructure is diligently maintained. Recently, the Cibolo City Council planned its 2022 fiscal year budget and capital improvements dominated the discussion. “The American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 provided an infusion of cash,” says Reed. “Extending fiber internet is top priority. The north side of the city has good broadband infrastructure, but the south side is underserved with either slow or non-existent connections. Water and sewer infrastructure is another main priority.” Cibolo has also updated its plan for the 5-year Capital Improvements Program. The categories include public facilities, public safety, quality of life, drainage, transportation, and utilities. Reed elaborates, “Across those categories, we’ve identified approximately $370 million in infrastructure needs with transportation being number one. To be successful, we need partnerships so, our Mayor Pro Tem, Joel Hicks, has been our representative on the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (AAMPO). He’s advocated strongly to expand the FM 1103 roadway from two to five lanes. The request is going for final approval.” Sustainability is another key concern. The Cibolo Unified Development Code (UDC) Review Committee recently added some items to its document, which includes electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. New developers are now considering adding universal charging stations in parking lots. “Cibolo wants to get ahead of the game in terms of the electric vehicle industry,” says Morris. “We’re pushing for these accessible charging stations, because currently there aren’t many.” Other than EV chargers, Cibolo secured funding from the AAMPO to create more hiking and bike trails to connect the city. “All of our new residential and commercial developments will now fit our master plan for trails, making sure everything connects,” says Pollock. “We have dedicated parkland credits that developers can