Over the last month, the city councils of Lakeway, Bee Cave and Rollingwood have each had discussions and made decisions that affect the cities. From budget discussions to development code updates, check out three recent government stories from the area.
1. Lakeway projected to have $1.6 million shortfall for upcoming fiscal year
Lakeway is projected to have a $1.6 million shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year as revenues are down by 5.5%, equalling $19.5 million, while expenditures have increased by nearly 6% at $21.1 million, Lakeway City Manager Joseph Molis said at a June 15 City Council meeting.
Three strategic options were presented to the council to improve the balance.
The city can increase revenue by adjusting tax rates, fees and pursuing new revenue sources.
Improving tax base productivity may also decrease the shortfall by supporting development or redevelopment that expands the tax base and generates long term revenues.
Service levels may also be adjusted as service delivery models, staffing levels and program offerings are evaluated to reduce recurring expenditures.
2. Bee Cave updates mixed-use zoning to keep commercial spaces intact
Bee Cave City Council approved amendments to the city's unified development code at a June 23 meeting in order to clarify the goals that mixed-use zones were designed to achieve, senior planner Sean Lapano said.
Before the adoption of the city's unified development code in 2022, Bee Cave did not allow residential uses inside of nonresidential areas. Yet, the introduction of the UDC created three mixed-use zoning districts that allow residential buildings to be a component of the mixed-use developments.
“This [UDC] allowed for complementary residential uses with a focus on commercial-anchored mixed-use,” Lapano said.
The key changes to the code include clarifying that single-use nonresidential buildings are permitted in mixed-use districts, prohibiting buildings of any height that contain solely residential uses in mixed-use districts and adding a ratio requiring that the gross square footage of residential uses not exceed twice the square footage of commercial uses within the same development.
3. Rollingwood to consider implementing surveillance technology
Rollingwood City Council discussed potentially implementing surveillance technology and authorizing a request for proposals for cameras and surveillance infrastructure at a June 17 City Council meeting.
Although no action surrounding the ordinance or request for proposals was taken at the meeting, council members emphasized the importance of ensuring privacy and security protections while also weighing the benefits of surveillance systems.
"If we take certain precautions with the data and with how the cameras are used ... and most importantly, in my mind, if we can have a system that has real-time monitoring capabilities within our police vehicles ... It is a force multiplier if one or two cruisers can monitor five or six different locations at 2 or 3 in the morning,” Mayor Gavin Massingill said. “That’s what I think makes this pill worth swallowing.”
City Council will continue drafting an ordinance that provides a regulatory framework for the deployment and use of surveillance technology.
