During her weekly COVID-19 update on Facebook Live on Aug. 20, Cox reminded residents of the burn ban and passed along the following recommendations from the Lakeway Fire Department.
- Do not park cars on grass.
- Maintain tire pressure and brake pads to avoid sparks.
- Make sure tow chains are not dragging on the pavement.
- Do not throw lit cigarettes out of a vehicle window.
“Things are very crispy out there,” Cox said.
Cox began her broadcast by saying the COVID-19 situation in the city continues to improve. As of Aug. 19, the city has experienced 470 total cases, 56 of which are active, according to Cox.
“We have definitely dropped in the number of active cases,” she said. “The actions that we are taking are working.”
Face masks are still required in a public area where social distancing cannot be maintained, per an order by Gov. Greg Abbott, she said. A Travis County order last week limited gatherings to no more than 10 people through Dec. 15.
Cox also gave an update on budget talks and the city’s property tax rate. At the Aug. 17 meeting, City Council increased the maximum tax rate by 3.5% to $0.1694 per $100 of assessed value.
A dip in revenue, due mostly to restrictions during the pandemic, prompted the increase, Cox said.
Cox said City Council will meet three times in September to finalize the budget for fiscal year 2020-21, which begins Oct. 1. After budget workshops Sept. 8 and 21, City Council plans to vote on the FY 2020-21 budget and tax rate Sept. 28.
Cox also gave an update on the RM 620 median project. The 6-inch raised medians are designed to improve safety between opposing lanes of traffic from Lohmans Crossing Road to the north end of Bella Montagna Circle.
Cox said the project should be completed by the end of the month and will alter previous turning options.
“There will be changes in how you route,” she said.
Cox held a brief question-and-answer session after her update.
Since COVID-19 caused widespread closures back in March, Cox has been providing weekly updates via Facebook Live. The Aug. 20 live video had to be restarted three times due to audio problems. The video is available on Lakeway’s Facebook page.
