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Buffalo Beat- September 2026

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THE BUFFALO BEAT CELEBRATING THE PAST, SHAPING THE FUTURE PROFESSI ONAL DEVELOPMENT

ACCOUNTABI LI TY

RESPECT

TEAMWORK

I NTEGRI TY

CITY OF CIBOLO FY2027 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 1. Veterans Day – Wednesday, November 11, 2026 2. Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 26, 2026 3. Day after Thanksgiving – Friday, November 27, 2026 4. Christmas Eve – Thursday, December 24, 2026 5. Christmas Day - Friday, December 25, 2026 6. New Year's Day - Friday, January 1, 2027 7. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, January 18, 2027 8. Presidents’ Day - Monday, February 15, 2027 9. Good Friday – Friday, March 26, 2027 10. Memorial Day - Monday, May 31, 2027 11.Juneteenth - Friday, June 18, 2027 (Observed) 12.Independence Day – Monday, July 5, 2027 (Observed) 13. Labor Day - Monday, September 6, 2027 *Floating Holidays: In addition to the above holidays, all regular, full-time employees will have one (1) Floating Holiday loaded to their account on October 1st each year.

WWW.CIBOLOTX.GOV SEPTEMBER 2026


TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNIVERSARIES & SERVICE AWARDS WELCOME TO TEAM CIBOLO SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS HEALTH AND WELLNESS POLICY HIGHLIGHT & LENDING LIBRARY GALLUP WEBINARS & SURVEY


September Anniversaries THELMA GONZALES- 9 YEARS NICOLE PEREZ- 7 YEARS THOMAS MEEKER- 6 YEARS THEDRICK ANDRES- 3 YEARS BRANDON WILSON- 3 YEARS MARKISE PRICE- 3 YEARS EDWARD DICKSON- 2 YEARS TIMOTHY MEDITZ- 2 YEARS JOSEPH MENDOZA- 2 YEARS EDUARDO ANGUIANO- 1 YEAR TRAVIS CASWELL- 1 YEAR MATTHEW GERSTNER- 1 YEAR BRYANT HAKEY- 1 YEAR EVAN STEVENS- 1 YEAR

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE!


WELCOME TO TEAM CIBOLO! PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING OUR NEWEST MEMBERS OF TEAM CIBOLO!

LUCY BETANCOURT, FINANCE, PROCUREMENT MANAGER

GILBERT MEDINA, PUBLIC WORKS PARKS, PARKS & FACILITIES SUPERINTENDENT

ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING BUFFALO THRIVE THANK YOU TO OUR WELLNESS COMMITTEE, BUFFALO THRIVE AND RICK MIRELES FOR HOSTING THE CIVILIAN RESPONSE TO ACTIVE SHOOTER EVENTS (CRASE) COURSE.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEPTEMBER

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LEIGH ANN ROGERS

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LUCY

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BETANCOURT

RICK VASQUEZ RAMON GOMEZ

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TIMOTHY ABBOTT

JUSTIN ANTHONY

JANETTE WILSON

MARIO TRONCOSO

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RABEA ERVINCASILLAS

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GABRIEL GUEL

MATTHEW GERSTNER

JENNY CRUZ

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PARKER NOVOTNY

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THOMAS HOLLICK

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YVETTE PACHECO

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GABRIEL FLORES

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CIBOLOFEST 2026 Cibolofest 2026 is just around the corner! As a reminder, this year’s all day event will take place on Saturday, October 17th. Due to the scale and community impact of this event, we count on all staff’s participation in making Cibolofest successful. If a staff member has a life‑altering event or a commitment that was scheduled well in advance of this date, any exception must be reviewed by your Department Head who will need to send the request after their review and approval to the CMO for Mr. Reed's review and approval .

*NON–PUBLIC SAFETY STAFF CAN EXPECT THE OFFICIAL CIBOLOFEST WORK‑ASSIGNMENT SIGNUPGENIUS TO GO OUT IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.


health & wellness H a p py B a c k to S c h o o l ! As we move into another school year, keeping up with appointments and unexpected sick days can be a challenge. Did you know that Blue Cross Blue Shield offers 24/7 access to non-emergency care from a board-certified doctor or therapist by phone, online video or mobile app from almost anywhere? This service is free for Gold and Platinum plans and comes at a low cost for Silver. Virtual care can be a convenient option for addressing many common health conerns from home without having to make a trip to the doctor’s office. As you prepare for the rest of the school year, take a few minutes to learn more about your virtual visit benefit and how it can make getting care a little easier for you and your family!

B l u e C r o s s B l u e S h i e l d of Texa s Vi r t u a l Vi s i t s


Policy Highlight Longevity Pay is the City’s way of recognizing and celebrating our employees continued service and dedication! Eligible regular, fulltime employees receive $120 for each full year of continuous service as of September 30, up to a maximum of 25 years, less applicable taxes and deductions. Keep an eye out for this annual payment—it will be issued between the first and second pay periods in November. It’s a great opportunity to recognize the value of your continued service with the City!

Lending Library book highlight “Unreasonable Hospitality” is an easy and fun read about the power of making people feel seen, valued, and cared for through everyday interactions. While the stories come from the restaurant industry, the lessons are especially meaningful for City of Cibolo employees, showing how thoughtful service can strengthen relationships with residents while also creating a more supportive and collaborative workplace for one another. The book emphasizes that small acts of kindness, empathy, and going the extra mile can build trust, improve the customer experience, and make our work more rewarding. This new edition is now available in the lending library. We hope you'll check it out and discover new ideas for serving both your coworkers and our City with purpose and care.

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!

SCAN TO CHECK OUT/IN BOOKS


GALLUP: I KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME AT WORK This Gallup question measures whether employees have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. It reflects how well expectations are communicated and whether employees have the clarity they need to do their jobs effectively. When expectations are clear, employees can work with greater confidence and focus. 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

Sharpen Your Approach

What are you focusing on?

Focus on what team members are currently working on, what

How is your current project going? Are there times when you feel conflicted or confused about your priorities?

is going well with those projects and what is getting in the way of success.

💡"Clearto Communication" Challenge- At the start of a meeting, take a few minutes ensure everyone understands roles, responsibilities, and next steps. 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

Sharpen Your Approach

How do you feel about what you are working on?

Use this team conversation to clarify the responsibilities for each role so that each person can commit to, deliver on and focus on what matters most.

How do you know if you are doing a good job? Are there times when you don’t know what your top priority should be? How can we as a team help one another communicate needs and priorities during these times? How can we communicate better when work is hectic and we have to move quickly from one task to another?

Check out this video from Gallup for further insight on this question! https://www.gallup.com/workplace/356045/q12-question-summary.aspx


webinars AWP WEBINAR:

SUICIDE AWARENESS SEPTEMBER 9, 3 P.M. SEPTEMBER 17, 11 A.M.

JOIN ALLIANCE WORK PARTNERS ONE AFTERNOON A MONTH FOR A COMPLIMENTARY 60-MINUTE WEBINAR TRAINING. RESERVE YOUR SEAT ONLINE THROUGH THEIR REGISTRATION LINK, DISTRIBUTED VIA EMAIL WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF EACH WEBINAR. BE SURE TO ACTIVATE YOUR ACCOUNT WITH AWP TO RECEIVE THE REGISTRATION LINK! IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE ACTIVATING YOUR ACCOUNT, CONTACT HRSERVICES@CIBOLOTX.GOV OR STOP BY THE HR OFFICE.

//www.awpnow.com /main/

WE’D LOVE WE’D LOVE YOUR YOUR FEEDBACK FEEDBACK TO TO HELP HELP IMPROVE IMPROVE OUR OUR INTERNAL INTERNAL NEWSLETTER! NEWSLETTER! HTTPS://CIBOLOTXGOV.SHAREP OINT.COM/:U:/S/CIBOLOHUMAN RESOURCES/IQAFAHCACVJER5 HZUNRY0ZXIAZWJUVABFV1NW XHPEB6EUR0?E=CTM0VK Scroll down the linked page to find the form.


Virtual Visits: Get Cost-Effective, 24/7 Care With Virtual Visits from MDLIVE®, the doctor is always in. This Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) benefit gives you access to 24/7 non-emergency care from a board-certified doctor or therapist by phone, online video or mobile app from almost anywhere. Skip expensive ER bills and waiting to see a doctor. You can speak with a Virtual Visits doctor within minutes. Services are available in both English and Spanish with translation services available in other languages. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

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Why Virtual Visits? • 24/7 access to an independently contracted, board-certified doctor or therapist • Access via phone, online video or mobile app from almost anywhere • Average wait time of less than 20 minutes • Doctors can send e-prescriptions

to your local pharmacy

The Virtual Visits benefit is a convenient alternative for treatment of more than 80 health conditions, including: • Allergies

• Headaches

• Cold/Flu

• Nausea

• Fever

• Sinus infections

Virtual Visits sessions with licensed behavioral health therapists are available by appointment. Get virtual care for: • Depression

• Substance use disorders

• Eating disorders

• Trauma and PTSD

• ADHD

• Autism spectrum disorder

First, call your doctor’s office; they may also offer telehealth consultations by phone or online video. If you have any questions about this or any other BCBSTX benefit, please call the number on the back of your ID card.

Activate your Virtual Visits account today: • Call 888-680-8646 • Go to MDLIVE.com/bcbstx • Text BCBSTX to 635-483 • Download the app

Virtual Visits may be limited by plan. For providers licensed in New Mexico and the District of Columbia, Urgent Care service is limited to interactive online video; Behavioral Health service requires video for the initial visit but may use video or audio for follow-up visits, based on the provider’s clinical judgment. Behavioral Health is not available on all plans. MDLIVE is a separate company that operates and administers Virtual Visits for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. MDLIVE is solely responsible for its operations and for those of its contracted providers. MDLIVE® and the MDLIVE logo are registered trademarks of MDLIVE, Inc., and may not be used without permission. Blue Cross® , Blue Shield® and the Cross and Shield Symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. 9100009.1222

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Blue Access for MembersSM

Get all the advantages your health plan offers

Get information about your health benefits, anytime, anywhere. Use your computer, phone or tablet to access the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) secure member website, Blue Access for Members (BAMSM).

With BAM, you can: •Check the status or history of a claim •View or print Explanation of Benefits statements

It’s easy to get started 1

Go to bcbstx.com/member

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Click Register Now

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Use the information on your BCBSTX ID card to complete the registration process.

•Locate a doctor or hospital in your plan’s network •Find Spanish-speaking providers •Request a new ID c ard – or print a temporary one

Text* BCBSTXAPP to 33633 to get the BCBSTX App that lets you use BAM while you’re on the go. *Message and data rates may apply

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Buffalo Beat- September 2026 by cityofcibolotx - Issuu