“The City Council will consider whether to regulate short-term rentals, and if so, how to do it. A subcommittee was appointed in November, and their report is expected early this year.”Linda Anthony,
West Lake Hills mayor[/caption]
Meetings The council meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at West Lake Hills City Hall, 911 Westlake Drive, West Lake Hills. 512-327-3628 www.westlakehills.org
Terms and compensation The mayor and council members serve two-year terms with no term limits and without compensation.
Coverage Meetings are recorded, and an audio CD of each meeting is available upon request for $1 from the city secretary’s office in West Lake Hills City Hall.
Big decisions made in 2015
New police chief hired City Council voted to hire Scott Gerdes as the city’s new chief of police in February. A 25-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department, Gerdes has updated policies and procedures and reached out to other area police departments to build relationships.
Bee Cave Road expansion project City Council is securing the final pieces of right of way for the Bee Cave Road expansion project, which will include adding a center turn lane and sidewalks. Construction on the project will begin this spring.
Transparency, public access Throughout 2015, the city has improved transparency and public access to information by making more information about its budget and processes available on its website. West Lake Hills staff has expanded its use of social media to make residents aware of important issues.
Top issues for 2016
Infrastructure improvements Implementing major infrastructure improvements throughout the city will be a top priority.
Drainage master plan In 2015 City Council voted to fund a comprehensive drainage study of the entire city to provide guidance on where and how to address its drainage issues. A top challenge in 2016 will be prioritizing improvements.
Oak wilt program Restoring and expanding the city’s oak wilt program to protect trees from the contagious fungal disease is a priority. The council will look at new funding sources for preventive measures.
Traffic flow West Lake Hills City Council will continue efforts to improve traffic flow on major city streets and reduce speeding and cut-through traffic in our neighborhoods.
