West Lake Hills City Council members met virtually April 8 for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.
While city facilities remain closed to the public, council members met through Zoom to officially postpone the $22 million bond election.
The full bond was set to include a list of the city’s critical infrastructure needs, encompassing two propositions. Proposition A totaling $12 million was dedicated to the construction of a new combined City Hall and police building, and Proposition B totaling $10 million was focused on a list of roadway and drainage projects.
Mayor Linda Anthony first announced this decision May 19 in a letter to the community, following a proclamation issued by Gov. Greg Abbott in March allowing political subdivisions to postpone their elections to Nov. 3.
The proclamation provided entities with the ability to postpone previously scheduled May elections; however, according to Anthony, council is still required to take action.
“Conditions right now are certainly in a state of flux,” Anthony said, adding that the city will have until August 17 to decide whether or not they’d move forward with the election November.
According to bond counsel Jerry Kyle, the city effectively called a November election by taking action to postpone the previous May election date. He clarified that while entities have limited authority to cancel an election once it has been called, the city could call off the election citing economic issues.
Anthony noted by summer the city will have a greater understanding of how the coronavirus pandemic has financially impacted local businesses, residents and the city overall.
“We are under no obligation if the situation is still questionable,” Anthony said.
Council unanimously voted to postpone the election following the discussion.
