Weekly Update ++

Two controversial issues were the buzz around the City this week.

As reported, the City was contemplating changing the route of the July 4th parade from Lakeway Drive to Lakeway Blvd. because of the construction planned on Lohman's Crossing and the congestion on Lakeway Drive at the end of the parade. Current thinking is to delay the construction on Lohman's Crossing to July 6th and work on a plan to improve the congestion at the parade end. I'll let you know when a final plan is accepted.

The other was at ZAPCO where a variance was granted to the Niemann tract at 620 and Clara Van to allow more than 12 feet of fill to level the property. There were conditions on the variance before fill work could be started.

A friend reported that a possible stolen truck was parked at the end of his cul-d-sac. around the same time there was a child going door to door playing a fiddle and asking for donations to send him to music school. I'm unsure if these two things were related, but the City has a fairly strict solicitation law. Please ask for a permit and report unauthorized solicitation if approached.

My wife and I went to Cristiani's Jewelers and they now require you to knock on the door for entrance. This has come about because of the two recent robberies. As a side note, they had an alarm problem Thursday morning and the response time for the police was about 60 seconds.

On another police note, the department must report compliance with the Texas Racial Profiling Law. The report again shows that our department is not practicing racial profiling or discrimination based upon ethnicity - GOOD WORK!

Our Municipal Court Judge, Kevin Madison, was recently honored by the Crime Victims First organization with their "Outstanding Community Service Award" for his dedication to protecting and preserving victim's rights. This is the third such award Judge Madison has received in the past 12 months. We should be very proud of his performance as our judge and his representation of Lakeway!

City Staff is now working on a "short term rental" ordinance and is preparing to send a copy to Council and Building Commission. Steve Jones and the City Attorney are working on the final language for the Pedernales Electric Coop franchise agreement and it should be on the April agenda.

AT&T is about to install a cable within the Lakeway Blvd. median from Lohman's Crossing to Lakeway Dr. to serve the new office building next to the Exxon station. It appears there will be no open cuts of the roadway so traffic impairment will be minimal.

Outside the City - there will soon be construction starting on SH 71 in the area of Barton Creek bridge. The bridge will be widened, turn lanes added, and a traffic light will be installed at the entrance to Spanish Oaks. The new Back Yard will host this year's Willie Nelson Fourth of July Picnic. That combined with AquaPalooza should provide an exciting Summer.

I've also seen reports that Maudie's Tex-Mex food is under construction behind the Trading Post in the Shops at the Galleria. I have also heard that a Gumbo's restaurant is going in over there also! Bon Appetit!

That's all for now!

Thanks for LOOKING!

Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us