Congratulations Valerie!
VALERIE CHAPMAN HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS CITY SECRETARY, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 28.
VALERIE JOINED THE CITY OF CIBOLO IN OCTOBER 2017 AS A PERMIT CLERK AND WAS PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT CITY SECRETARY IN FEBRUARY 2020. SHE EARNED HER TEXAS REGISTERED MUNICIPAL CLERK (TRMC) CERTIFICATION IN JANUARY 2024 AND IS WELL PREPARED TO CONTINUE THE HIGH STANDARD OF SERVICE AND PROFESSIONALISM OF THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
QUARTERLY MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
ANNIVERSARIES & SERVICE AWARDS
WELCOME TO TEAM CIBOLO
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
POLICY HIGHLIGHT & WEBINARS
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
BENEFITS
LENDING LIBRARY & EXPRESS EVALUATIONS
GALLUP
AIRSHOW & SURVEY
Find the chick hidden in this edition of The Buffalo Beat to win free wings at Pluckers! (2 chicks are hidden throughout and two winners will be selected- not including the one on this page!)
Team Cibolo,
As we move into the second quarter of 2026, I am energized by the progress we continue to make across our organization. Spring in Cibolo is always a season of high activity, and this year is no exception. It is a time when our planning efforts transition into tangible actions that serve our community.
This progress was clearly reflected during our City Council Strategic Management Workshop on March 28th This was a pivotal moment for our leadership to ensure that our long-term vision remains clear and actionable During the session, the Council focused on moving from the "Problem Space to Solution Space," specifically addressing critical areas like stormwater management and our growth and development strategies Council will have to come back to work on the growth and development strategies because of time We spent time reviewing our 5- Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP), focusing on the essential investments needed for our roads, parks, and the continued construction of our new public safety and animal services facilities Our success as a city depends on the alignment between the Council’s policy direction and our daily execution I am grateful for a Council that remains committed to setting a strategy that allows us to focus our limited resources on what truly matters
Just as we invest in our infrastructure, we must continue to invest in "Team Cibolo" because our people are how we deliver services to our residents and community. I am incredibly proud to see our team members growing into new levels of leadership and want to recognize several key promotions from this past quarter. Please join me in congratulating Valerie Chapman on her appointment as City Secretary, Stacy Cason on her promotion to Deputy City Secretary, and Lieutenants Zitkus and Schauer on their promotions within the Police Department. Growth also comes through continuous learning, and in March, we kicked off our Spring Buffalo Leadership Academy with 13 dedicated employees from across the organization Their commitment to professional development supports our desire to promote a positive and professional culture
As we look toward the summer, our budget season is now officially underway following a kickoff presentation by Finance Director Anna Miranda on March 10th This session established our Fiscal Year 2027 budget timeline I want to ensure everyone is aware of the critical milestones ahead: our initial budget workshop on June 16th, a secondary workshop on July 21st, and a special meeting on July 30th following the receipt of certified appraisal values on July 25th While this process involves significant numbers and spreadsheets, it is fundamentally about our commitment to provide exceptional service that make Cibolo a place to live, work, and play. The budget is City Council's most important policy document; it is where we align our financial resources with our commitment to providing reliable services and maintaining the trust of our community.
Finally, as I mentioned in my New Year’s message, I am looking forward to getting out of the office and spending time with you I will be conducting my annual City Manager tour visits throughout the month of May These visits are the highlight of my year because they provide me the opportunity to hear your stories, discuss how we can better support one another, and provide staff with key updates Our people make this city run, and I want to ensure I am listening to the voices on the front lines of our service delivery
Our progress is never the result of one individual, but a team committed to a vision Thank you for your continued dedication to serving our community with such excellence I look forward to catching up with all of you during my departmental visits this May.
Sincerely,
Wayne Reed, ICMA-CM City of Cibolo City Manager
APRIL
KENNETHTHOMES-14YEARS
LEEHINZE-13YEARS
JAMESMCINTIER-12YEARS
BRANDONSCHEEL-7YEARS
STACYCASON-6YEARS
ANDREWGONSOLIN-6YEARS
CHRISTOPHER MARTINEZ-6YEARS
DAVIDMARTINEZ-5YEARS
JOSHUASOLIS-5YEARS
ADAMTAYLOR-3YEARS
DEVONWILSON-3YEARS
ARMANDOCADENA-3YEARS
RICARDOMORENO-2YEARS
ASHTONRUBY-1YEAR
BRUNASOLIS-1YEAR
PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING OUR NEWEST MEMBERS OF TEAM CIBOLO!
MICHAEL PENA, PUBLIC WORKSDRAINAGE, STREET SWEEPER
JOSEPH MENDOZA, PUBLIC WORKSDRAINAGE, DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE I
LUIS ORTIZ, PUBLIC WORKSUTILITIES, UTILITIES APPRENTICE
MATTHEW HUFFMAN, POLICE DEPARTMENT, POLICE OFFICER CADET
MARY KALYANDJIAN, POLICE DEPARTMENT, PROPERTY ROOM MANAGER
TRAVIS CASWELL: PUBLIC WORKS PARKS
CERTIFIED PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
INSPECTOR AND PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
RECERTIFICATION
JOVAAN CURTIS: PUBLIC WORKS STREETS
LEVEL 1B ASPHALT CERTIFICATION/CLASS A CDL
CODY BENAVIDEZ: PUBLIC WORKS FLEET
CLASS A CDL
HUNTER JUBELA: PUBLIC WORKS UTILITIES
CLASS A CDL
SHANNON HALL: PUBLIC WORKS ADMIN
DISASTER ACCOUNTING BASICS
CERTIFICATE W/ TDEM
DEBRA HOGAN: PEOPLE & PERFORMANCE DEPARTMENT
SPHR (SENIOR HR CERTIFICATION)
NOT PICTURED:
MATT HANSON, TERESA COOK: BUILDING PERMITS
WAYNE REED: CITY MANAGER
GREEN BELT CERTIFICATION
BRIAN NIPPER: POLICE DEPARTMENT
BACHELORS DEGREE (4.0 GPA)
DUSTIN MORRIS: PEOPLE & PERFORMANCE DEPARTMENT
SPHR (SENIOR HR CERTIFICATION)
BRYAN HUGGHINS, MARIO TRONCOSO, YVETTE PACHECO, AND THEDRICK ANDRES
GREEN BELT CERTIFICATIONS
LT. STEVEN SCHAUER
POLICE DEPARTMENT
LIEUTENANT
VALERIE CHAPMAN
CITY SECRETARY’S OFFICE
CITY SECETARY
STACY CASON
CITY SECRETARY’S OFFICE
DEPUTY CITY SECETARY
LT. AUSTIN ZITKUS POLICE DEPARTMENT
LIEUTENANT
Thank you to the Parks & PW staff who made the 2026 Easter Egg Hunt a success, especially Ralph, for another year of playing the important role of the Easter Bunny! This year’s sponsors included Marina Nail Lounge & Camacho Hernandez & Associates.
BRYAN HUGGHINS
ANDREW JUAREZ MONICA MARTIN
TRAVIS CASWELL
CHRISTOPHER HUBBARD
ELIZABETH TAPLIN
RAFAEL DIAZ
RICARDO MORENO
ISAAC CURTIS
NATHAN RODRIGUEZ KAREN SANTA CRUZ
AL HADDAD
HECTOR MORENO
LINDA BUSCHMENDEZ
The City’s Sick Leave policy (510) provides paid time off when employees are unable to work due to their own health needs, preventive care appointments, or to care for certain immediate family members within defined family relationship categories. Full-time employees accrue Sick Leave each pay period, may begin using it as it is earned, and can accumulate up to a maximum balance of 960 hours. For extended absences or when patterns of unscheduled leave occur, the City may require documentation to verify the need for Sick Leave and ensure appropriate use. The policy also outlines how Sick Leave interacts with federal protections such as the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, as well as eligibility requirements for limited Sick Leave payout upon retirement after qualifying years of service. **This policy went through an administrative update in February 2026 to revise language regarding “grandfathered” employees. The attached document includes the administrative edit.
According to HUB Wellness, 27% of all American adults report that most days, they are so stressed they can’t function.* This type of excessive stress can be debilitating, leading to mental health issues, high blood pressure and other health concerns. If you can relate, it’s time to take control by building habits to help heal your mind and body.
Here are some signals that you might be suffering from excessive stress: Frequently feeling fear, anger, worry, sadness, frustration or numbness
Changes in appetite, energy, desires and interests
Trouble concentrating
Sleep problems
Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, or skin rashes
Worsening of chronic health problems and mental health conditions
When accessing your EAP benefits:
All employees and family members must contact AWP Intake and Referrals first before scheduling counseling, legal, or financial services. Intake will complete a brief assessment and connect them with an in network provider.
If services are scheduled without first contacting Intake, or if a provider is selected outside of AWP’s network, those sessions cannot be reimbursed. In those cases, the employee would be financially responsible for services received prior to completing the intake and referral process.
AWP is seeing an increase in situations where individuals schedule directly with a provider or are referred through their health insurance and then later request reimbursement through the EAP. Unfortunately, AWP is not able to retroactively authorize or reimburse those sessions.
To avoid confusion, AWP recommends:
Always call Intake first
Use the registration code only to create an account, not as authorization for services
Wait to be referred by AWP before scheduling appointments
Exciting news Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson has been prominent in trainings across the City, and now it has been added to our Lending Library! The book tells the story of four characters two mice and two “little people” who search a maze for cheese, a metaphor for the goals, security, and success people pursue in life and work. When their cheese suddenly disappears, each character responds differently, illustrating how fear, denial, adaptability, and action shape outcomes during change For City of Cibolo employees, the story serves as a reminder that policies, priorities, and community needs evolve, and those who stay flexible, proactive, and open to change are best positioned to continue serving the City effectively.
The Lending Library is available for Team Cibolo! Located at the City Hall Annex (in the PPD hallway)
Stop by, check out a book, and continue your journey of growth and learning, just be sure to return your book within three weeks of the checkout date!
The goal of this question is to measure whether employees feel connected to the organization’s mission and understand how their work contributes to a larger purpose. It reflects clarity, alignment, and meaning in daily work. When employees see how their role supports the mission, they feel more engaged and proud of what they do
Quick Connect Conversation
A Quick Connect is a one- to 10-minute conversation to stay connected with employees and their short-term work
Questions to Ask
When do you feel your job is important?
Have customers ever told you that you have helped them or made a difference?
When do you take pride in working here?
Sharpen Your Approach
Listen for evidence that your employees know their value to the team, organization and customers Think about what you can do to make it easy for your team members to maximize their contributions.
Challenge- Mission Spotlight: Recognize one team or individual and explain how their work advances the City’s purpose.
Team Check-In Conversation
A team Check-In is a 10- to 30-minute conversation to discuss team successes and current needs while still keeping a focus on the team’s future work.
Questions to Ask
What is most important to our team?
How does our team affect other teams?
What can we do to make our internal or external customers’ experiences more valuable?
How would you describe our mission?
Sharpen Your Approach
Help your employees understand the organization’s mission in simple terms so that they know how to act on it.
https://www.gallup.com/workplace/356045/q12-question-summary.aspx
The Great Texas Airshow will return to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph on May 2-3, featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the “Golden Knights.” This year’s theme is "Let Freedom Roar; Honoring 250 Years." The event is free and open to the public. Gates will open at 9 a.m. each day, with aerial performances scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Through collaboration with the Greater San Antonio Chamber, the Cibolo EDC is serving as an event sponsor, reinforcing Cibolo’s commitment to regional economic development strategic partnership. For more information, visit https://www.jbsa.mil/GreatTexasAirshow/.
Scroll down the linked page to find
Your EAP regularly helps people much like yourself locate the services they need to help family members and themselves cope with life’s challenges. Frequently the hardest part of a decision is doing the research to make your choice. By calling 1-800-343-3822, you can have a no cost, confidential conversation with an Intake Counselor that can do general research and within 72 hours provide up to 3 possible options for you to explore more thoroughly.
Alliance Work Partners is
to assist you in finding resources and referrals with a variety of needs, (but not limited to):
Academic
Adoption
Career
College
Childcare
Event planning
Fitness
Legal
Parenting
Relocation/moving services
Household repairs
Networking opportunities
Elder care
Financial
Grief, Loss & Renewal
Hotlines
Nutrition
Pet care
Retirement
Leisure/sports activities
Pre-& Post-natal information
Scholarships
Support Groups
Veteran’s Services
Volunteer options
1 Navigate to https://app.expressevaluations.com/
3 Click "Recognition" Click "Give Recognition"
4
Click the "Select a Recipient" field.
5
Type the name of the employee you'd like to recognize.
Click on the employee you'd like to recognize. In this example, I've picked Lucas Agesen.
7 Click the "Description" field to start typing your recognition note.
8
9 Click "Select Badge"
Click the badge that best describes the type of recognition. If a new badge needs to be created, let hrservices@cibolotx.gov know.
