Following her first year serving as city manager of Bee Cave, Julie Oakley shared details in October with Community Impact regarding her position and the city’s accomplishments and challenges over the past 12 months.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Why did you apply for the position of Bee Cave city manager?
I have worked in both local government and the private sector throughout my career. What I enjoy most about serving as a city manager is the direct contact with the community. It’s a privilege to help find solutions to the challenges residents face and to make a tangible difference in their daily lives.
What, in your opinion, does an ideal city manager do for their city?
An ideal city manager implements the goals and policies of the city council while leading a motivated, high-performing team. Local government is a team sport, and like a good coach, a city manager supports staff, establishes clear processes and sets high expectations so each employee can deliver their best. Progress happens when staff are empowered to provide high-quality services. Along the way, a city manager must maintain the trust of the council and community through integrity, transparency and commitment to serving the public.
What has the city accomplished during your time in this position?
I’m proud that Bee Cave’s financial health and local economy remain strong. Businesses are opening regularly, we maintain the lowest property tax rate in the area and the city received its first-ever AAA bond rating, reflecting strong fiscal management and securing low interest rates for future projects. Voters approved a new Public Safety Building in May that will be shared with Lake Travis Fire Rescue, strengthening police and fire capabilities in fast-growing Western Travis County. City services remain high quality thanks to efficient operations and technology improvements, including new software for enhanced public meeting recordings, agenda management, [human resources] recruiting and open records processing. City Hall is now more welcoming and accessible, with an administrative assistant ensuring visitors and callers are directed correctly. We’ve also updated ethics and whistleblower ordinances to reinforce public trust and accountability. Together, these efforts strengthen Bee Cave’s foundation for growth, stability and responsive local government.
What challenges has Bee Cave faced in the past year, and how did you work to overcome them?
Like many growing communities, Bee Cave faces the challenge of managing growth while preserving the environment and community character. My approach is transparency and stakeholder engagement: We bring in residents, businesses and other stakeholders early to inform decision-making. A recent example is the [Texas Department of Transportation’s] [Hwy.] 71 median project. By gathering feedback from local businesses and public safety officials, we worked with TxDOT to phase construction—building raised medians first in less congested areas and postponing the busier eastern segment until the roadway is widened. Broad engagement allowed us to find a balanced solution that addressed safety concerns while respecting community needs.
Looking forward, what would you still like to accomplish as city manager?
I would like to see improvements to our transportation network to keep up with the growth this region is experiencing. In Bee Cave, that means updating our thoroughfare plan with new road segments to make it easier to get around the city and to provide more alternatives to [Hwy.] 71. The intersection of Hamilton Pool Road and [Hwy.] 71 is an area of particular concern that we are working with TxDOT to address. Longer-term priorities include completing construction of the Public Safety Building, building more sidewalks across the city and adding more amenities to Central Park. It is an honor to work alongside city staff, the council and the community to continually make Bee Cave the best it can be.
