Be sure to check out the Lakeway Photo Festival at the Lakeway Activity Center this week through Saturday! Here is a link to a flyer with all the information.
If you are interested in the Lakeway Regional Hospital, there will be a forum tomorrow night. Here is a link to more info on that.
A lot of folks are talking about the Lake Travis ISD bond issue. Please take time to look at both sides and inform yourself BEFORE you vote. Here are two links: FOR the bond and AGAINST the bond. There is a lot of good information on both sites!
More soon!
Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Weekly Update
Hi folks!
This week started with a Special Meeting of the Council Monday morning. Here is that agenda.
Council considered a petition from the owners of a subdivision known as Lago Acres to include that property in the City's 3 year plan. They denied that request.
Council amended Ordinance No. 2011-09-19-03 annexing the area known as North Brooks Hollow into the City of Lakeway. The amendment changed the effective date from January 1, 2012 to an immediate date. This was done to address a possible date issue brought forward by the pending lawsuit.
Council authorized City Manager Steve Jones to hire legal counsel to represent the city in the matter of Cokins vs. Lakeway.
ZAPCO will meet Wednesday in regular session. Here is that agenda. The major items of interest in this agenda will be:
Members will address zoning for recently annexed properties.
A request from Las Ventanas Land Partners for a zoning change from R-1 and GUI to R-8 (Multifamily Residential) to allow apartments to be built on property South of Highlands Blvd.
A request from Cherry Peak, Ltd. to change the zoning of about 21 acres located along Wild Cherry Drive from R-1 to R-8 (Multifamily Residential) has been postponed and will not be addressed at this meeting.
From Steve Jones:
Site work has started at city hall for the Liebelt Cabin project. The cabin will be located inside the orange construction fence on City Hall property. The cabin is scheduled to be moved sometime next week.
Parks and Public Works departments have begun installation of Christmas decorations on the trail of lights at city hall. It looks to be another GREAT display that the City can be proud of!
A contingency of staff and elected officials will attend a mediation next week on the Lakeway Airpark South project. The mediation will include representatives from the developer and Lakeway Airpark.
Shannon Burke met this week with Lakeway Regional Medical Center Group and they intend to submit the first draft of a proposed Planned Unit Development next week. The plan is to include not only the existing medical center property, but also the property to the South and North, including the 27 acre Cherry Knoll tract that abuts Flint Rock.
Shannon also reported that the architects and engineers for the proposed HEB on Hwy 71 are still working on the construction drawings for the project. The project is still moving forward, even if the design phase is taking longer than they anticipated.
It looks to be a busy week ahead. Don't forget the RX return day at the Justice Center between 10 and 2 tomorrow!
Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us
This week started with a Special Meeting of the Council Monday morning. Here is that agenda.
Council considered a petition from the owners of a subdivision known as Lago Acres to include that property in the City's 3 year plan. They denied that request.
Council amended Ordinance No. 2011-09-19-03 annexing the area known as North Brooks Hollow into the City of Lakeway. The amendment changed the effective date from January 1, 2012 to an immediate date. This was done to address a possible date issue brought forward by the pending lawsuit.
Council authorized City Manager Steve Jones to hire legal counsel to represent the city in the matter of Cokins vs. Lakeway.
ZAPCO will meet Wednesday in regular session. Here is that agenda. The major items of interest in this agenda will be:
Members will address zoning for recently annexed properties.
A request from Las Ventanas Land Partners for a zoning change from R-1 and GUI to R-8 (Multifamily Residential) to allow apartments to be built on property South of Highlands Blvd.
A request from Cherry Peak, Ltd. to change the zoning of about 21 acres located along Wild Cherry Drive from R-1 to R-8 (Multifamily Residential) has been postponed and will not be addressed at this meeting.
From Steve Jones:
Site work has started at city hall for the Liebelt Cabin project. The cabin will be located inside the orange construction fence on City Hall property. The cabin is scheduled to be moved sometime next week.
Parks and Public Works departments have begun installation of Christmas decorations on the trail of lights at city hall. It looks to be another GREAT display that the City can be proud of!
A contingency of staff and elected officials will attend a mediation next week on the Lakeway Airpark South project. The mediation will include representatives from the developer and Lakeway Airpark.
Shannon Burke met this week with Lakeway Regional Medical Center Group and they intend to submit the first draft of a proposed Planned Unit Development next week. The plan is to include not only the existing medical center property, but also the property to the South and North, including the 27 acre Cherry Knoll tract that abuts Flint Rock.
Shannon also reported that the architects and engineers for the proposed HEB on Hwy 71 are still working on the construction drawings for the project. The project is still moving forward, even if the design phase is taking longer than they anticipated.
It looks to be a busy week ahead. Don't forget the RX return day at the Justice Center between 10 and 2 tomorrow!
Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us
Friday, October 21, 2011
Weeks End Update!
The week started off with Council meeting on Monday evening. Here is that agenda. The financials look good with about a $500k surplus.
Mayor DeOme made two proclamations - the first recognizing the week of October 19 - 23 as Chamber of Commerce Week in Lakeway, the second recognizing the week of November 7-11, 2011 as Municipal Court Week in Lakeway.
A petition was considered from Kay Sconci that the City of Lakeway include the Travis Oak Trails subdivision in the City's 3 year annexation plan - this was denied.
Annexation of several areas was then considered. All areas were passed unanimously except item (e) Lochan Ora which was opposed by Bruce Harris and item (b) Travis Oaks Trails which was opposed by both Council Member Tye and Council Member Harris.
An amendment was passed to our Health and Sanitation Ordinance to allow Code Enforcement employees the ability to enforce that Ordinance.
Council will meet in Special Session Monday, October 24 at 9:00AM. Here is that agenda. At this meeting, Council will consider yet another petition from owners to be included in a 3 year annexation plan. The current state statute requires Council to "act" on these petitions.
The Council will also consider an amendment to Ordinance No. 2011-09-19-03 that annexed North Brooks Hollow into the City of Lakeway.
Council will meet with the City Attorney on the lawsuit filed by Steve and Anita Cokins.
Steve Jones has asked for authorization to engage legal counsel to represent the City in the matter of Cokins vs. Lakeway.
In other news, Judge Madison and the courts are having an Open House and Presentation and want to invite everyone November 10th. There will be a reception along with presentations on Traffic and Safety - see this link for more information. This is especially important for those with Teen Age Drivers!
Don't forget the Safety Day and Bike Rodeo tomorrow, October 22, 2011. Here is a link to more information about that!
I was just told that protesters are at the Lakeway Activity Center being filmed by YNN News. They are protesting the LTISD bonds. It should make Channel 8 (Time Warner Customers) tonight!
That's all for now - more as I find out!
Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us
Mayor DeOme made two proclamations - the first recognizing the week of October 19 - 23 as Chamber of Commerce Week in Lakeway, the second recognizing the week of November 7-11, 2011 as Municipal Court Week in Lakeway.
A petition was considered from Kay Sconci that the City of Lakeway include the Travis Oak Trails subdivision in the City's 3 year annexation plan - this was denied.
Annexation of several areas was then considered. All areas were passed unanimously except item (e) Lochan Ora which was opposed by Bruce Harris and item (b) Travis Oaks Trails which was opposed by both Council Member Tye and Council Member Harris.
An amendment was passed to our Health and Sanitation Ordinance to allow Code Enforcement employees the ability to enforce that Ordinance.
Council will meet in Special Session Monday, October 24 at 9:00AM. Here is that agenda. At this meeting, Council will consider yet another petition from owners to be included in a 3 year annexation plan. The current state statute requires Council to "act" on these petitions.
The Council will also consider an amendment to Ordinance No. 2011-09-19-03 that annexed North Brooks Hollow into the City of Lakeway.
Council will meet with the City Attorney on the lawsuit filed by Steve and Anita Cokins.
Steve Jones has asked for authorization to engage legal counsel to represent the City in the matter of Cokins vs. Lakeway.
In other news, Judge Madison and the courts are having an Open House and Presentation and want to invite everyone November 10th. There will be a reception along with presentations on Traffic and Safety - see this link for more information. This is especially important for those with Teen Age Drivers!
Don't forget the Safety Day and Bike Rodeo tomorrow, October 22, 2011. Here is a link to more information about that!
I was just told that protesters are at the Lakeway Activity Center being filmed by YNN News. They are protesting the LTISD bonds. It should make Channel 8 (Time Warner Customers) tonight!
That's all for now - more as I find out!
Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us
Friday, October 14, 2011
Weekly Update, Upcoming Events+
Let's start out with the agenda for the Council Meeting Monday night. Here is a link. The main items are a petition from Kay Sconci requesting Travis Oaks Trail be included in the City of Lakeway's 3 year plan for annexation. This is the same type of petition presented by North Brooks Hollow by Steve and Anita Cokins. Council will address this petition at the Council Meeting Monday.
The Council will also address the question of annexation of several areas.
And finally, Council will address modification of the Health and Sanitation ordinance clear up issues allowing code enforcement to handle certain issues in addition to police officers.
________________
In other news, the City was served yesterday with a petition for a lawsuit by Steve and Anita Cokins regarding annexation of their property and the Brooks Hollow neighborhood.
From Steve Jones:
Lakeway Civic Corporation approved funding of $20,277 that will be combined with the Craftsman Grant and money available from the Heritage Center Fund to relocate and restore the Liebelt log cabin near the City Hall. This will be a GREAT addition to the area and will preserve this part of the area's history. Thanks!
The Lakeway MUD board of directors voted to sell their vacant lot at 129 Schooner to the city for $30,000. Since this price is slightly higher than previously approved, it will be brought back to the Council for approval. This conveyance would also include an easement for the proposed bicycle trail in Hamilton Greenbelt and a license for a trail adjacent to the MUD's large effluent storage pond on Highlands Blvd.
Our first wildfire ad was published in this weeks View. We have another ad that will be published in next week's paper. Banners will also be posted next week.
The City's total sales tax receipts for last month show a 15.4% increase over the same period last year and a 11.1% increase year to date.
Chief Radford reports we are up to 29 sworn officers beginning this weekend and our newest officer will start work on November 1st. The police will support Goblin Glow this weekend and will be gearing up for Public Safety Day on October 22. The Drug Take Back day will occur on October 29. Personal video cameras are being assigned and should be in use. The department is stepping up enforcement of speeding and cell phone use in school zones.
That's all for now!
Joe Bain
joe@bain.us
The Council will also address the question of annexation of several areas.
And finally, Council will address modification of the Health and Sanitation ordinance clear up issues allowing code enforcement to handle certain issues in addition to police officers.
________________
In other news, the City was served yesterday with a petition for a lawsuit by Steve and Anita Cokins regarding annexation of their property and the Brooks Hollow neighborhood.
From Steve Jones:
Lakeway Civic Corporation approved funding of $20,277 that will be combined with the Craftsman Grant and money available from the Heritage Center Fund to relocate and restore the Liebelt log cabin near the City Hall. This will be a GREAT addition to the area and will preserve this part of the area's history. Thanks!
The Lakeway MUD board of directors voted to sell their vacant lot at 129 Schooner to the city for $30,000. Since this price is slightly higher than previously approved, it will be brought back to the Council for approval. This conveyance would also include an easement for the proposed bicycle trail in Hamilton Greenbelt and a license for a trail adjacent to the MUD's large effluent storage pond on Highlands Blvd.
Our first wildfire ad was published in this weeks View. We have another ad that will be published in next week's paper. Banners will also be posted next week.
The City's total sales tax receipts for last month show a 15.4% increase over the same period last year and a 11.1% increase year to date.
Chief Radford reports we are up to 29 sworn officers beginning this weekend and our newest officer will start work on November 1st. The police will support Goblin Glow this weekend and will be gearing up for Public Safety Day on October 22. The Drug Take Back day will occur on October 29. Personal video cameras are being assigned and should be in use. The department is stepping up enforcement of speeding and cell phone use in school zones.
That's all for now!
Joe Bain
joe@bain.us
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Prescriptions, CBC, City News
Prescription Take Back Day - Start getting your old prescriptions together so you can take them to the Lakeway Police Department on October 29, 2011 from 10:00AM to 2:00PM. Here is a link to more information!
CBC will meet in regular session on October 13, 2011. Here is that agenda!
Public Safety Day and Bike Rodeo it coming up on October 22, 2011. This is a huge event with EMS, Fire, Police, Sheriff's Dept. and many more attending. Put it on your calendar - it's all FREE! Here is a link to more information!
From Steve Jones:
You should be seeing a new banner around the City about fire hazards. Here is what it will look like. Thanks to Rachel Wallace for a great job designing it!
The lot behind the Justice Center has been cleaned up after a complaint from a neighbor. Thanks to the City for being a responsible neighbor and setting an example for others.
The Village of the Hills is ready to install their 5-foot concrete sidewalk along the East side of The Hills Drive from their entrance to Lakeway Blvd., a portion of which is within our City limits. Permits have been issued and work should be complete within 30 days.
Shannon Burke reports we finished the fiscal year with 169 new house permits compared to 136 last year, a 20% increase! He also reports the site work and subdivision improvements for the hospital behind the Post Office were officially completed. We have no information on when it is planed to open.
Chief Radford reports that Officers Sam Smith and Chris Doles successfully completed their field-training and have been assigned to solo patrol - Congratulations! He reported that National Night Out was a successful project! He estimated 350-400 people attended seventeen different neighborhood meetings.
Andra Dearing reports "Viewpoints" will have their first meeting on Sunday, October 16, with Margaret Perry discussing how Opera has flourished for four centuries. There are tickets available, call the Activity Center, 261-1010.
The Activity Center is undergoing a redesign that includes painting and furniture upgrades. All the work should be complete by the end of the year. There will be an "Open House" after the work is completed!
The trail in the east Lakeway Blvd. median is virtually complete with the exception of the footbridge - it looks like it withstood the recent rain (hooray!!!!) except for the vehicle that ran across one part of the newly established trail. New signs have been installed at the intersections of Crestview/Lakeway Blvd., Duck Lake/Lakeway Blvd. and at the Heritage Center.
_______________
We had a GREAT rain didn't we! My gauge shows a little over 2 inches. Although this somewhat helps the immediate fire damage, it does little to help the current drought conditions. Water restrictions are still in effect - once a week watering as far as I can tell.
The Lakeway MUD will meet October 12 at 9:30AM. Here is the full agenda.
That's all for now!
Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us
CBC will meet in regular session on October 13, 2011. Here is that agenda!
Public Safety Day and Bike Rodeo it coming up on October 22, 2011. This is a huge event with EMS, Fire, Police, Sheriff's Dept. and many more attending. Put it on your calendar - it's all FREE! Here is a link to more information!
From Steve Jones:
You should be seeing a new banner around the City about fire hazards. Here is what it will look like. Thanks to Rachel Wallace for a great job designing it!
The lot behind the Justice Center has been cleaned up after a complaint from a neighbor. Thanks to the City for being a responsible neighbor and setting an example for others.
The Village of the Hills is ready to install their 5-foot concrete sidewalk along the East side of The Hills Drive from their entrance to Lakeway Blvd., a portion of which is within our City limits. Permits have been issued and work should be complete within 30 days.
Shannon Burke reports we finished the fiscal year with 169 new house permits compared to 136 last year, a 20% increase! He also reports the site work and subdivision improvements for the hospital behind the Post Office were officially completed. We have no information on when it is planed to open.
Chief Radford reports that Officers Sam Smith and Chris Doles successfully completed their field-training and have been assigned to solo patrol - Congratulations! He reported that National Night Out was a successful project! He estimated 350-400 people attended seventeen different neighborhood meetings.
Andra Dearing reports "Viewpoints" will have their first meeting on Sunday, October 16, with Margaret Perry discussing how Opera has flourished for four centuries. There are tickets available, call the Activity Center, 261-1010.
The Activity Center is undergoing a redesign that includes painting and furniture upgrades. All the work should be complete by the end of the year. There will be an "Open House" after the work is completed!
The trail in the east Lakeway Blvd. median is virtually complete with the exception of the footbridge - it looks like it withstood the recent rain (hooray!!!!) except for the vehicle that ran across one part of the newly established trail. New signs have been installed at the intersections of Crestview/Lakeway Blvd., Duck Lake/Lakeway Blvd. and at the Heritage Center.
_______________
We had a GREAT rain didn't we! My gauge shows a little over 2 inches. Although this somewhat helps the immediate fire damage, it does little to help the current drought conditions. Water restrictions are still in effect - once a week watering as far as I can tell.
The Lakeway MUD will meet October 12 at 9:30AM. Here is the full agenda.
That's all for now!
Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
NNO, Weeks News
National Night Out was a huge success! 17 neighbors opened 
their front yard to neighbors to get together, meet each other, and talk about safety issues. There was an estimated 350 total attendance. My thanks to police and City Officials that visited the gatherings and answered questions and talked to citizens about current events.
There was much concern about fires and notifications - if you would like your cell phone to be added to the CAPCOG Emergency Notification System click on this link.
From Steve Jones:
Rachel Wallace, Administrative Assistant, is producing a public information program on wildfire safety. She has already posted information on our website informing readers on how they can help, how to find information, and how to prepare for the possibility of a wildfire in your area.
Code Enforcement is actively looking for overgrown lots that need attention. They are currently working 40 active cases. Because of the severity of the situation, I have directed them to reduce all notice periods to be as short as possible to speed up the process of getting lots cleared.
I talked to the POA manager at the Hills about their contractor tracking tar onto Lakeway Blvd. and obscuring our pavement markings. The contractor has agreed to help pay the cost for repainting the stripes. This should happen in the near future!
There has been some concern about our ability to hold local elections in May because of legislation about National Primary Elections. Decisions by the City of Austin will make it possible for us to continue holding our election in May. Their final vote will occur on their October 6 meeting.
The City has recently done some traffic studies on Lakeway Blvd. and Lakeway Dr. Average speeds are usually withing a few MPH of posted limits, however a disturbing number of drivers are driving 5 to 10 MPH over the limit. Chief Radford is working on an effort to slow down traffic based on information from the study.
Chessie Blanchard reports that Maldonado Nursery and Landscaping has been selected from the bids that were received for landscape maintenance services. Their bid was $15,000 less than our current expense level and they are experienced in high visibility projects.
____________________
Lakeway MUD went to their new watering restrictions Monday. One watering a week is allowed - odd addresses on Tuesday and even's on Thursday. Go to their site for a complete list of restrictions - www.lakewaymud.org
In other MUD news, the developer that has been trying to by their cedar tract property on Lohmans defaulted on the purchase last Friday. More on that as I find out.
That's all for now - more soon! Thanks for all the support. If you would like to be added to my email list, write me at lakeway@bain.us
Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us
their front yard to neighbors to get together, meet each other, and talk about safety issues. There was an estimated 350 total attendance. My thanks to police and City Officials that visited the gatherings and answered questions and talked to citizens about current events.There was much concern about fires and notifications - if you would like your cell phone to be added to the CAPCOG Emergency Notification System click on this link.
From Steve Jones:
Rachel Wallace, Administrative Assistant, is producing a public information program on wildfire safety. She has already posted information on our website informing readers on how they can help, how to find information, and how to prepare for the possibility of a wildfire in your area.
Code Enforcement is actively looking for overgrown lots that need attention. They are currently working 40 active cases. Because of the severity of the situation, I have directed them to reduce all notice periods to be as short as possible to speed up the process of getting lots cleared.
I talked to the POA manager at the Hills about their contractor tracking tar onto Lakeway Blvd. and obscuring our pavement markings. The contractor has agreed to help pay the cost for repainting the stripes. This should happen in the near future!
There has been some concern about our ability to hold local elections in May because of legislation about National Primary Elections. Decisions by the City of Austin will make it possible for us to continue holding our election in May. Their final vote will occur on their October 6 meeting.
The City has recently done some traffic studies on Lakeway Blvd. and Lakeway Dr. Average speeds are usually withing a few MPH of posted limits, however a disturbing number of drivers are driving 5 to 10 MPH over the limit. Chief Radford is working on an effort to slow down traffic based on information from the study.
Chessie Blanchard reports that Maldonado Nursery and Landscaping has been selected from the bids that were received for landscape maintenance services. Their bid was $15,000 less than our current expense level and they are experienced in high visibility projects.
____________________
Lakeway MUD went to their new watering restrictions Monday. One watering a week is allowed - odd addresses on Tuesday and even's on Thursday. Go to their site for a complete list of restrictions - www.lakewaymud.org
In other MUD news, the developer that has been trying to by their cedar tract property on Lohmans defaulted on the purchase last Friday. More on that as I find out.
That's all for now - more soon! Thanks for all the support. If you would like to be added to my email list, write me at lakeway@bain.us
Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Drought, Stage Two Restrictions, Events
More drought news!
The Lake Travis Economic Impact Study was formally released Thursday at the Oasis. Here is a link to their website where y
ou can view both a summary of the findings and the full report. Councilman Alan Tye spoke briefly about the ongoing affects on the area and our City.
Starting October 3, 2011, those served by Lakeway MUD will go to Stage Two water restrictions. This means watering your lawn will be restricted to one day a week. Here is a link to their website - scroll down to see the full information on watering restrictions.
The ongoing drought continues to severely stress Texas trees. A new Texas Forrest Service video give some good timely information on how to water. Here is a link to that information.
The Lakeway Police Department is proud to participate in a collaborative effort with the DEA to support National Prescription Take Back Day - October 29, 2011. Here is a link to more information!
Have you heard? The 6th Annual Great Goblin Glow for 2011 is happening on October 15, 2011 at the City Park. Here is a link to more info - see you there!
Here is a link for information about registering to vote - you will need this if you want to participate in the upcoming bond elections.
That's all for now - I am trying to get some info on the MUD Cedar Tract sale - if I find anything out I'll let you know!
Joe Bain
Lakeway@bain.us
The Lake Travis Economic Impact Study was formally released Thursday at the Oasis. Here is a link to their website where y
ou can view both a summary of the findings and the full report. Councilman Alan Tye spoke briefly about the ongoing affects on the area and our City.Starting October 3, 2011, those served by Lakeway MUD will go to Stage Two water restrictions. This means watering your lawn will be restricted to one day a week. Here is a link to their website - scroll down to see the full information on watering restrictions.
The ongoing drought continues to severely stress Texas trees. A new Texas Forrest Service video give some good timely information on how to water. Here is a link to that information.
The Lakeway Police Department is proud to participate in a collaborative effort with the DEA to support National Prescription Take Back Day - October 29, 2011. Here is a link to more information!
Have you heard? The 6th Annual Great Goblin Glow for 2011 is happening on October 15, 2011 at the City Park. Here is a link to more info - see you there!
Here is a link for information about registering to vote - you will need this if you want to participate in the upcoming bond elections.
That's all for now - I am trying to get some info on the MUD Cedar Tract sale - if I find anything out I'll let you know!
Joe Bain
Lakeway@bain.us
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)