Fifteen members of a new Cedar Park bond task force will explore and plan a possible bond election after Cedar Park City Council approved establishing the new committee Jan. 22.

Cedar Park Director of Finance Joseph Gonzales said the committee will be tasked with evaluating the growing citys need for new capital improvements, including new transportation projects, and willuse recent city revenue information to make recommendations to City Council.

City Council could appoint committee members during meetings in February. The committee would spend about three monthsplanning and researching before presenting its findings in May, he said.

The committee would identity and recommend projects to council to be considered for a future bond election, Gonzales said. However, it is ultimately councils responsibility to call for a bond election and decide which projects would be included on the ballot.

Gonzales said Cedar Park has funds left over from its last bond election, but the city would need new bond fundingto pursue road improvements and other projects. In November 2007 city voters approved $62.07 million in bonds, including $36.2 million for road improvements, $17.98 million for parks and recreation facilitiesand $7.89 million to fund public safety facilities.

Mayor Matt Powell said the 2007 bond has funded improvements throughout the city for more than seven years.

For many years now the council has been pretty unified [about bond funding], Powell said. We recognize that debt can be a helpful tool. Its a tool that cities, especially growing cities, can very well utilize. But we wanted it to be a last option.

Roadway improvement continues to be one of Cedar Parks greatest needs, Powell said.

Place 1 Councilman Stephen Thomas said the city can use bonds to keep tax rates low.

City Council approved establishing the board, which will be composed of 15 city residents who are appointed by the mayor and council members. The mayor will also appoint a board chair.

Powell said he hopes to appoint members in time for the board to begin meeting in March.