Saturday, February 14, 2015

CAMPO, Council, LCC and a LOT More!

Happy Valentine's Day!  What a gorgeous day to enjoy!

CAMPO:  Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization met in regular session Monday evening.  Steve Jones and I attended.  New members Judge Sarah Eckhardt, Commissioner Brigid Shea, Mayor Steve Adler and Burnet County Judge James Oakley introduced themselves.  City of Austin appointees were not finalized at the time of the meeting and will be introduced at the next meeting.

The Board approved the current 2040 Plan after an update from CAMPO staff.  Significant expenditures are planned for Hwy. 35 and other projects.  Lakeway will be hosting a Mobile Meeting Thursday the 19th at City Hall and CAMPO Executive Director Ashby Johnson will have a presentation and will take comments and questions from the audience.  RSVP to Dena at denalindamood@lakeway-tx.gov or call her at 512-314-7516 - there will be pizza and soda served!

Council will meet in regular session on Tuesday February 17th at 6PM.  Here is a link to that agenda.  We will be looking at a procurement policy, setting up the general election ordinance on May 9th for 3 Council Positions and 1 Mayor Position, hearing a presentation from Jim Reiners of the Visitors Commission concerning marketing and public relation services and looking at an ordinance prohibiting the use of portable electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle.  It should be an interesting meeting!  Here is a link to the meeting packet information.




The Lakeway Civic Corporation held it's Annual Meeting and Dinner Thursday evening.  Two new members were added to the Board, Nancy Clayton and Jim Hord, and the two retiring members, Vicki Taylor and Joe Benasutti were thanked for their participation (Top Photo). There were Four Meritorious Service Awards presented to Searcy Willis, Steve Witt, Jimmy Anderson and Becky and Jose Naveira. The Outstanding Citizen of the Year was awarded to Gerry Astorino.  Unfortunately, Searcy Willis got away and I didn't get a picture, however the rest of the recipients from left to right are Jimmy Anderson, Gerry Astorino, Steve Witt, and Becky and Jose Nevana.  A big thanks to all for their service to the City and area!  Here is a link to information about the LCC.


From Steve Jones:
Following some internal restructuring of the Building and Development Services Department, the city has posted an opening for the position of Building Official.  This position will supervise all aspects of BDS related to permitting, plans review, inspections, and code enforcement.  BDS continues to experience an increased workload associated with vertical construction, and hiring a building official with the expertise to manage that workload and back up building services staff will improve the city’s ability to provide those essential services.

Staff conducted the first arts district focus group this week.  More than 30 invitees from the arts community attended the 90-minute workshop.  Three more focus groups will be held over the next few weeks.  Staff will present a draft of the arts district zoning regulation to the city council in March, and will be holding a town hall meeting on the proposed concept in early April. 

This week the city closed on the Series 2015 General Obligation Bonds of $3,765,000 at an interest rate of 2.205% for 15 years.  The next day the transaction for the land purchase was funded.  We closed on the Williams Tract (LTYA) today, and the city now owns the 70 acres on Bee Creek Road!  

We will host a public meeting of CAMPO to present the 2040 Plan at City Hall on February 19 at 6:00 PM.  The CAMPO Policy Board approved a list of projects for the 2040 Plan this week that includes adding two more lanes to RM 620.  

Bruce Byron with TxDOT advised me that he is ready to move forward with the Lakeway citizens input committee for the RM 620 corridor study.  I would like each councilmember to appoint a member to the committee.  To that end, I will send you some information that you can share with prospective committee members.  I hope to have that out to you next week.  


I have attached a legislative report from the Central Texas Water Coalition.  They apologized for the informality of the report, but felt like the information needed to get out quickly.  The CTWC is disappointed that all water related bills are to be referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs.  
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From the Police:
Routine traffic stops resulted in the following charges 
o Possession of Drug Paraphernalia X 4
o Possession of a Controlled Substance X 4
o Possession of Marijuana X 2
o Possession of Alcohol by a Minor X 1
o Warrant Arrest X 1
o Out of Jurisdiction Warrant X 1
o Minor in Possession of Tobacco X 1
1. A Hurst Creek resident reported their identity had been stolen and fraudulent charges were on their credit card.  This case is under further investigation. 
2. Officers responded to a disturbance call at the entrance to Hamilton Green Belt, a mother reported she was having a problem with her teenage son.  Apparently, the young man had run away into the green belt.  Officers checked the area and after a short time the young man returned home. 
3. Officers responded to a disturbance call on Sailmaster.  Upon arrival it was learned a boyfriend/girlfriend where having an argument that began at Rocco’s and continued after they arrived home.  The parties were separated and no charges were filed. 
4. Our Animal Protection officer is continuing their investigation into an Animal Cruelty case which originated on Lohman’s Crossing at Lakeway Blvd.  Charges were filed on a female suspect whom was observed being unduly aggressing with her dog.  Upon contact with our officers the suspect failed to Identify herself and became aggressive.  The subject was arrested for the cruelty act, for failing to identify herself and for resisting arrest. 
5. Officers were called to a home under construction on Duck Horn Pass.  The suspects entered the home, and trailer on the site, stealing equipment and materials, including tools and ceramic tile valued at several thousand dollars. 

The recent press release regarding the burglaries of residences at night has yielded some workable leads.  We have partnered with the Travis County Sheriff’s office detective assigned to this area, as they have had some similar issues. It is imperative that the public help us by diminishing opportunities for those seeking to unlawfully enter cars and homes. Please, lock your houses and cars, at all times. 

OPERATIONS / SUPPORT:
The Network Fleet system was set up with geo-fences for all sector checks.  Units that were off line were brought on line with the exception of two units which needed to be replaced.  Those have been ordered.  Two additional units will be ordered to equip all first-responder vehicles. This technology allows the agency to monitor the activates of each patrol unit and to run diagnostics on the patrol cars as needed. 
We held a task force meeting to address ongoing burglaries and wheel thefts. Many strategies and leads were discussed and these cases are still under investigation. 
Our telecommunications center as transitioned from an 8hour work schedule to a 12 hour work schedule.  This change will reduce individual commuting time and costs. Our telecommunication center is manned 24/7/365. This change we believe will be better for the employees, thus enhancing our service to the city.
LPD is in the process of hiring dispatchers, police officers and a part-time administrative assistant. 
Our CID supervisor attended supervisor training and equitable sharing (federal seizure) training.

We had 83 open records requests last month compared to 78 in Jan. 2014. So far this month we have filled 34 requests, on pace for 65 compared to 64 last February. Our need for additional support in this area is obvious, as we look forward to hiring our part-time administrative assistant. 
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That's all for today - hope you have a wonderful evening.  Feel free to email me with questions or comments!  Thanks for all the support.

Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us




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