Scenic City, Oaks, Inman Speaking and Much More!

It's been a big week and there's a lot of future events so lets get started!

Last week Devin Monk traveled to Houston to accept a Gold Scenic City Certification with City Attorney Alan Bojorquez!  We are proud of the new Certification!  Here is a link to more information.  Thanks to Devin and Alan to accepting the award in Houston!

Work has started on the Oaks at Lakeway development.  I'm told HEB will be open for business in October of 2015.  This is a mixed use development with other shops, restaurants and some residential areas.  The Lakeway MUD is working to make land available for extension of Glen Heather Dr. to allow an entrance on Lohmans Crossing.  Here is a link to more information.  There is a lot of work being done including tree protection and drainage protection.  It's good to see this project get started!

For our Veterans Day Program, Lakeway will welcome former security director Ret. U.S. Navy Admiral Bobby R Inman as the guest speaker.  Here is a link to more information!

National Night Out was a huge success Tuesday evening.  I was honored to accompany Chief Radford to most of the locations.  Some meetings had 10-15 folks and some had as many as 75-80.  It was a GREAT evening and I was able to meet with many Lakeway citizens - thanks to all the effort by the police and citizens to make this a GREAT night!

On our last stop at Crosswater Yacht Club, I learned of an event they are putting on to help a scholarship foundation that awards awards benefits to children and spouses of fallen and wounded soldiers.  It is called Rods and Ribs and will be held on October 18th at the marina.  Lots of neat cars and a rib cooking competition - should be a GREAT time!  Here is a link to more information.


Steve Walker, GM at Lexus of Austin, says the  Lexus of Lakeway is well on it's way to completion at it's location at 620 and Clara Van.  It's scheduled to open mid-summer in 2015.  

After a little bump, the lake levels are starting down again - today Lake Travis is at 623.94.  LCRA will have to deal with another emergency order in November and hopefully new rules will be approved and be in effect early next year.

We have our October CAMPO meeting Monday on the UT campus.  I hope to secure funding for a corridor study for Western Travis County.  Currently the only plan on the books is to possibly add a lane to each side of Hwy 620.  Extra lanes are a GREAT short term solution, not a 25 year plan. This has come about since the City has looked to conceptually connect the drop off point of SH45 planned from Lakeline to 620 and 2222 with SH 45 South that is currently planned.  CAMPO's mission is a regional solution to traffic and transportation issues.  I think it's time we started looking at Western Travis County and developed some long range plans!

From Steve Jones:
While working on the city’s long-range capital improvements plan, it became obvious that the city’s highest priority need is a new justice center that would include a new police station and municipal court.  The current justice center was completely full when it was opened ten years ago, and the department is busting at the seems today.  For the past year, staff has evaluated options and opportunities for a new facility.  A few months ago, I asked the council to consider purchasing a piece of property as a future location.  The consensus was not to purchase a site at that time, but to push forward with plans to build the whole facility.  To that end, we have solicited a proposal to perform a needs assessment, site assessment, and conceptual plan for a new justice center project from Croslin Design Concepts (copy attached).  I hope to have an agreement for services on our next agenda for your consideration.  This would be the first official step toward calling a bond election in November of 2015 to fund a project.  

Mayor DeOme and I met with Mayor Ron Dodd, Village of the Hills, this week to extend an invitation for The Hills to participate in the LTYA project.  He said that he would relay the invitation to their board of aldermen.  Mayor DeOme also reached out to Mayor Murphy in Bee Cave who is not interested in participating.  

We are nearing completion with the feasibility study for an event/conference center.  The consultant, Barlow and Associates, expects to have a preliminary report ready in the next few weeks.  


Lakeway MUD and the Rough Hollow MUDs are negotiating a wastewater service agreement to provide future sewer service to the new development.  The city’s interest is to encourage a “regional” wastewater system and avoid multiple sewer plants.  At some point in the future, the city will assume the Rough Hollow MUDs, and I would like to inherit the most economical and efficient wastewater system possible. 

The Building Commission met in regular session Thursday morning and determined that view-blocking was not an issue at 101 Scamper Cove.  It also upheld the decision of the Code official that roofing materials at 625 Sunfish were not a violation of city code. 

From Chief Radford:
• Lakeway Police made several routine traffic stops, some led to the following charges being filed: 
o Possession of drug paraphernalia X 4
o Possession of marijuana
o Driving while license invalid
o Driving without license
o Fail to identify
o Permitting unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle
• A juvenile was arrested after threatening a family member with a pair of scissors.  The juvenile was transported to Gardner Betts Detention Facility for processing.
• Paint was slung onto a vehicle being driven near the intersection of Lohman’s/Lakeway Blvd.  It is unknown if the paint fell from a passing vehicle or if it was thrown intentionally at the victims vehicle.   No suspects have been identified at this time. Witnesses should contact the Lakeway Police if they have any information about this incident.
• Lakeway Police Officers attended 20 National Night Out block parties which were organized and attended by Lakeway citizens.  
• KVUE news ran a story on LPD’s fitness/wellness program. 
• Captain Crowder continues to prepare for the emergency management tabletop exercise scheduled for next week in conjunction with Travis County Emergency Management. The Village of the Hills Mayor as well as the American Red Cross are the most recent to confirm that will be joining us for the event. The event is scheduled for Thursday, October 16th  at City Hall. (closed event, invitation only, not for the public)
• The new radio consolette’s were installed in our dispatch center. Evidence Tech Smith helped the installers and completed radio checks for the newly annexed areas. 
• Detective Howell inventoried and serviced all of the Personal Flotation Devices for the patrol officers. 
• Detective Howell continued working to prepare for Deer Trapping, setting up two more trapping sites in the city.   
• Detectives are exchanging information with Bee Cave detectives in reference to construction site thefts from both cities. 

• Chief Radford was elected to an unprecedented forth term as the President of the Capitol Area Law Enforcement Executives Association. 

I hope everyone is ready for a cooler weekend - it's supposed to be Fall again and maybe even some welcome rainfall.  Be careful and have a GREAT weekend.

If you would like to be included on my email list, please send a note to that effect to lakeway@bain.us and I'll get you on the list!

Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us