Fredericksburg, Texas – The Fredericksburg City Council unanimously agreed to end its 14-year relationship with the Former Texas Rangers Foundation (FTRF) during its Regular Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
“This action by the Council is simply holding the Former Texas Rangers Foundation accountable for their obligations under a contract they sought with the City in 2011,” Mayor Jeryl Hoover said. “The land they've occupied belongs to the citizens of Fredericksburg. They failed to produce what they agreed to, and after 14 years, it's time to part ways.”
In Executive Session, the Council rejected FTRF's request for a 14-day lease extension. This decision concludes a process that began in September 2024, when the Council issued a 90-day Notice of Default to the FTRF Board, allowing them until December 5, 2024, to address the default.
“The FTRF Board and leadership chose to be non-responsive to our notification that we found them in default,” Hoover said. “We gave them 90 days to contradict our finding, and they did not respond. We asked them last month for an accounting of public funds we gave them. They did not respond.”
On December 3, 2024, the Council directed the City Manager and City Attorney to take all necessary actions for the immediate termination of the 380 Economic Development Agreement and Ground Lease with FTRF, effective December 5, 2024. The Council also authorized actions to protect and preserve the City's property and interests, plus a 60-day lease extension, which extended the lease to February 5, 2025.
The original agreement, which granted a lease for $1 per year of the 12-acre property at 1618 E. Main St., was established in February 2011. It required FTRF to construct a major museum facility on the public land by February 2018. After missing that deadline, the City granted a seven-year extension to the group.
“I was mayor when the deal was struck in 2011, and I still believe what the FTRF offered would have benefited heritage tourism,” Hoover added. “But they've had ample time to produce, and unfortunately, they didn't, nor could they show evidence they were capable of it.”
To learn more about the City of Fredericksburg, go to FBGTX.org or contact City Hall at (830) 997-7521.
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