What we reported With a growing population and business sector in Leander and Cedar Park, both cities dedicated funding for extra positions and equipment for public safety improvements in the 2016-17 fiscal year. The cities’ police and fire departments also have several building projects underway that will help meet the needs of the growing departments.

The latest In the fall, Cedar Park City Council approved funds for a scenario-based training simulator and mobile command post for the police department. In Leander, Police Chief Greg Minton said his department has been in the process of hiring for new positions, and Leander City Council approved funding for a Sally Port entrance, or a secure garage area for an arrestee and officer, in the fall.

What’s next According to the city of Cedar Park, the modular training simulator is expected to be complete in the spring, and the mobile command post could become operational in late 2017. A new fire administration building should open in 2017, and an expansion to the police station and construction of Fire Station No. 5 should be complete in 2018. Leander’s fourth fire station is expected to open at Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Crystal Falls Parkway around June, and construction of the Sally Port for the police station is expected for this year.