Cedar Park City Council
From left: the 2015-16 Cedar Park City Council includes Stephen Thomas, Lyle Grimes, Corbin Van Arsdale, Mayor Matt Powell, Lowell Moore, Kristyne Bollier and Jon Lux.[/caption]
Meetings
Most Cedar Park City Council regular meetings are hosted at 6:30 p.m. on second and fourth Thursdays of each month at the Cedar Park Council Chambers at City Hall, 450 Cypress Creek Road, Bldg. 4, Cedar Park. 512-401-5000. www.cedarparktexas.gov
Terms and compensation
Council members serve two-year terms without term limits, and they receive reimbursement for cell phone use, meals, travel and other expenses directly related to their role on City Council.
Video coverage
Meetings are broadcast on Time Warner Cable channel CPTV-10 and via a live feed on the city’s website. Meeting agendas, minutes and recordings are also posted and archived on the city’s website, www.cedarparktexas.gov.
Big decisions made in 2015
Bond passage On Nov. 3, voters approved four bond propositions totaling $96.7 million in new public bonds, which will fund a variety of projects, including road improvements, a new library and emergency department expansions. The city plans to issue the bonds in late 2016.
Destination: Bell Boulevard study The new city bonds included $20 million, which will help begin redevelopment of Bell Boulevard between Cypress Creek Road and Park Street. Throughout the year the city held public meetings about a study. Redevelopment planning is expected to continue in 2016.
Lime Creek Quarry purchase On Aug. 27 the council approved a purchase resolution to spend $4.1 million to purchase the 215-acre Lime Creek Quarry site from the city of Austin. The resolution included a timetable to end blasting by two tenants on the site. Development of new businesses on the site could begin by 2021 or 2022.
Shopping center initiative On Nov. 12 the council approved incentives totaling $3.5 million for The Parke, a shopping center planned southwest of the intersection of New Hope Drive and Toll 183A. Business names have not been announced, except for 365 by Whole Foods.
Top issues for 2016
Diversifying economy City leaders said they expect Cedar Park will continue to attract different kinds of businesses, including entertainment venues, restaurants and retail. Council members say they want to promote diverse business to help the city rely more on sales tax revenue and keep property taxes low.
Office development City council members said they want to attract more primary employers to Cedar Park, but the city lacks sufficient multistory buildings that offer potential office space. Several developers have asked the city about building new office complexes, Mayor Matt Powell said Dec. 9.
Road projects About $63 million in new bond funds will support improvements to highways and arterial roads. Some of the projects could start in 2016, such as improvements to Anderson Mill Road and the addition of final segments to finish Little Elm Trail between Bell and Lakeline boulevards.
Whitestone Boulevard construction A project may be completed by fall to rebuild the intersection of Whitestone Boulevard and Ronald Reagan Boulevard/Parmer Lane as well as widen Whitestone between Market Street and CR 175. The project is funded by the city and the Texas Department of Transportation.
Leander City Council
From left: the 2015-16 Leander City Council includes Shanan Shepherd, Troy Hill, Michelle Stephenson, Ron Abruzzese, Mayor Chris Fielder, Jeff Seiler and Andrea Navarrette.[/caption]
Meetings
Most Leander City Council regular meetings are hosted at 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of each month at Pat Bryson Municipal Hall, 2014 N. Brushy St., Leander. 512-528-2700. www.leandertx.gov
Terms and compensation
Council members serve three-year terms without term limits, and they can receive reimbursement for conferences, meals, travel and other expenses directly related to their role on City Council.
Coverage
Meeting agendas and minutes are posted on the city’s website, www.leandertx.gov.
Big decisions made in 2015
Comprehensive plan update On Oct. 15, Leander City Council approved an update of the city’s comprehensive plan. The plan is used to help shape zoning decisions for future development.
Incentives for Old Town Leander businesses On Nov. 19 the council approved up to $250,000 for a pilot incentive program. Owners of businesses in Old Town Leander could receive city assistance for loans and infrastructure development.
Lakewood Community Park grant On May 7, City Council accepted a $400,000 grant from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Funds will be used to begin developing Lakewood Community Park, a 125-acre property southwest of the intersection of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Crystal Falls Parkway.
Rezoning and plan approved for Ronald Reagan/SH 29 retail center On Dec. 17 council approved a plan that requires a developer to begin work by April 2017 on Bar W Ranch, a 50-acre shopping center planned southeast of the intersection of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and SH 29. The site is planned for high-quality destination businesses.
Top issues for 2016
Bond election In February, City Council could call for a May bond election, meaning city residents would vote on propositions to issue new bonds that would finance a list of proposed projects.
Housing boom continues In 2014 and 2015 the city of Leander issued more than 1,100 new single-family house permits each year. The city plans to restructure and hire new building permit office staff to help handle the workload.
Old FM 2243 and Bagdad Road projects Work began Jan. 4 on a $24 million project to widen Old FM 2243 between North Lakeline Boulevard and US 183. In spring a related $13 million project would widen Bagdad Road between Old FM 2243 and CR 280. Each project would expand the road from two to four lanes and add a center turn lane.
TOD construction Three significant projects will continue within Leander’s transit-oriented development, or TOD, district. Projects include Bryson and Oak Creek neighborhoods as well as a new apartment complex northeast of the intersection of Hero Way and Mel Mathis Parkway.
Travis County Commissioners Court
Travis County Commissioners Court, from left: Margaret Gómez, Precinct 4; Gerald Daugherty, Precinct 3; Judge Sarah Eckhardt; Brigid Shea, Precinct 2; Ron Davis, Precinct 1[/caption]
Meetings
The court meets Tuesdays at 9 a.m. Travis County Administrative Building, 700 Lavaca St., Austin 512-854-9020 www.traviscountytx.gov
Terms and compensation
Court members serve four-year terms. The judge’s pay for fiscal year 2015-16 is $118,373, Davis and Gomez are paid $101,417, Shea is paid $98,463 and Daugherty is paid $93,000.
Video coverage
Meetings are televised live on Time Warner Cable Channel 17, Grande Communications Channel 17 and AT&T U-verse Channel 99. Meetings are also posted online.
Big decisions made in 2015
Budget decisions The court voted to reinstate in-person visits and reasonably priced phone calls for county jail inmates and their families. The court also reduced property taxes for the average homeowner, including those older than 65 and disabled.
Parks and recreation The county added more than 3,000 acres of park and conservation land in 2015 as well as 50 miles of bikeways and sidewalks.
Courthouse On Aug. 18 the Travis County Commissioners Court called for an order to place a $287.3 million bond election on the Nov. 3 ballot. Voters rejected the bond, which would have spent funds on a new civil and family courts complex in downtown Austin.
Top issues for 2016
Transportation The county plans to establish better transportation connections for eastern Travis County, Judge Sarah Eckhardt said.
Flood response One focus area will be reclaiming flood-prone areas of southeastern Travis County to create flood-resilient communities with green spaces, creating safe and affordable housing, and establishing industries committed to employing the community for generations to come.
Courts The court plans to reimagine the way it works to deliver civil and criminal justice, Eckhardt said.
County income Trying to keep property taxes low by exploring other appropriate revenue sources to pay for needed infrastructure and services will be among the court’s goals in 2016.
Williamson County Commissioners Court
Williamson County Commissioners Court, from left: Cynthia Long, Precinct 2; Ron Morrison, Precinct 4; Lisa Birkman, Precinct 1; Judge Dan Gattis; Valerie Covey, Precinct 3[/caption]
Meetings
The court meets Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. Williamson County Courthouse, 710 S. Main St., Georgetown. 512-943-1550. www.wilco.org
Terms and compensation
The county judge and four county commissioners serve four-year terms. Each commissioner receives $94,037.10 per year. The county judge is budgeted $115,485.10 but has opted not to receive increases for several years, so he is only paid a portion of his salary.
Video coverage
Recordings of meetings can be found at www.wilco.org.
Big decisions made in 2015
Certificate of obligation bonds The commissioners issued $65 million in bonds in May, which have been used for constructing, improving and renovating facilities as well as purchasing land and equipping county buildings. The county dedicated funds to expand offices within the Georgetown Annex. Funds were also used for a training facility for the Sheriff’s Office, training space for hazardous materials and emergency medical services, office space for EMS, and the radio shop for vehicle and hand-held radios as well as vehicle and facilities storage.
Transportation The county broke ground on a project to widen FM 1620 between Round Rock and Georgetown as part of the $275 million in road bonds approved by county voters in 2013. Design work is underway for the widening of CR 110 from Hwy. 79 to north of Chandler Road in Taylor and for CR 111 from FM 1460 to SH 130 in Georgetown. Those projects are meant to improve safety and mobility in the area.
Top issues for 2016
Water County Judge Dan Gattis said a top issue for 2016 will be to focus on water needs in the county. The commissioners heard a presentation requesting $50,000 for a water study in November, and Gattis said he and Commissioner Valerie Covey have moved forward on a study to determine how much water the county has.
Security According to a memo from the governor’s office issued in October, licensed concealed handgun carriers cannot be prevented from entering multipurpose government buildings as part of a new law that went into effect Sept. 1. Unless an entire building is dedicated to court proceedings or government meetings, the memo states a state agency or political subdivision cannot deny CHL carriers entry to a government building. Gattis said the Williamson County courthouse will have to find a temporary solution to put in place in January while working on a long-term solution.
