Cedar Park

Cedar Park Council The 2016-17 Cedar Park City Council, from left: Mayor Pro Tem Lyle Grimes, Place 3; Jon Lux, Place 5; Mayor Matt Powell; Cobby Caputo, Place 4; Kristyne Bollier, Place 6; Corbin Van Arsdale, Place 2; Stephen Thomas, Place 1[/caption]

A question for  Matt Powell, mayor

Q: How will City Council aim to increase the number of large-scale employers  in Cedar Park in 2017?

A: We know that many larger employers are looking for nearby amenities for their employees and customers. ... We are attracting greater interest than ever before, and we are building on our momentum.

Big decisions made in 2016

  • Bell Boulevard In July, Cedar Park City Council selected an engineer to design the realignment of Bell Boulevard.
  • Property tax rate lowered In September, City Council approved a property tax rate of $0.474 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2016-17, which is less than the FY 2015-16 tax rate. The decision marked the fourth consecutive year that the city has lowered its property tax rate.   
  • Continuous-flow intersection Cedar Park unveiled a continuous-flow intersection at Parmer Lane/Ronald Reagan Boulevard and East Whitestone Boulevard in November as part of the RM 1431 pass-through project.
  • Future development Council in September reviewed a study of its future land-use plan, which could help council and the planning and zoning commission determine what areas of the city would be best for development in the future.

Top issues for 2017

  • Population growth At the annual State of the City address, Cedar Park Mayor Matt Powell said the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Cedar Park has surpassed a population of 70,000, which will continue to present the city with challenges.
  • Development With companies such as Swagelok Austin and Revenue Cycle agreeing to move headquarters locations to Cedar Park in 2017, City Council members have said they will be focused on more opportunities to bring hubs of employment to the area.
  • Parmer Lane Powell said Cedar Park is planning to release news about developments along Parmer Lane in the first quarter of the year.
  • Bell Boulevard The Bell Boulevard Redevelopment Project will continue to be one of the top areas of focus for the city throughout the year, Powell said.

Leander

Leander City Council The 2016-17 Leander City Council, from left: Shanan Shepherd, Place 3; Troy Hill, Place 6; Michelle Stephenson, Place 2; Mayor Pro Tem Ron Abruzzese; Mayor Chris Fielder; Jeff Seiler, Place 5; Andrea Navarrette, Place 1[/caption]

A question for  Chris Fielder, mayor

Q: As more people move to Leander, how will the city address the needs associated with growth?

A: [We are] being proactive in our road projects and infrastructure. Any excess money we receive because of growth we are putting back into public safety and infrastructure.

Big decisions made in 2016

  • More health care options St. David’s HealthCare acquired 52 acres of land in Leander for a freestanding emergency department and full-service hospital on San Gabriel Parkway.
  • New development City Council approved a zoning change for a new operations center for the Pedernales Electric Cooperative, and Austin Community College broke ground on its newest campus.
  • Bond election Leander City Council called for a May 2016 bond election totaling $70.9 million for city projects including transportation and parks projects, which Leander voters approved.
  • Property tax rate lowered In September council approved a property tax rate of $0.599 per $100 valuation for FY 2016-17, which is lower than the FY 2015-16 tax rate. The decision marked the fourth consecutive year the city has lowered the property tax rate.

Top issues for 2017

  • Continuation of bond projects City Council plans to continue moving forward on 2016 bond projects, such as improvements to Metro Drive, Raider Way and East Woodview Drive, and a streetscape project on North Brushy Street.
  • New shops, possible hotel Mayor Chris Fielder said more shops are expected to come to the area, and there is a very strong possibility a hotel could come to Leander in the first quarter of the year.
  • St. David’s facility The health care agency will break ground on its freestanding emergency department in Leander in 2017.
  • Growth Fielder said an average of 13 people move to Leander per day, and the growth will bring road projects and infrastructure improvements back before the council.