Short week for me, but still a lot to report! Weather is normal, 80 degrees in December and that is supposed to change this weekend - possible storms tonight and cooler tomorrow - normal, right?
We are progressing on the Flintrock Road Project, already with a little issue. AT&T is trying to hold us up and have not moved their facilities as was the plan. I've reached out to a friend on the Texas VP's staff and we're hoping it will move along - we are also planing workarounds if there is still a delay.
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The Deer are still a topic of conversation for some - here's some facts and updated information. It seems a lot I am hearing is not exactly true. Your city elected officials and City Staff love the deer and are not working to eliminate them, they are a part of Lakeway.
The City has had a Deer Management plan since the late 90's. The plan was developed in cooperation with Texas Parks and Wildlife and Lakeway is used as an example of the way to do Urban Deer Management in Texas. We held a presentation open to the public several weeks ago, if you didn't see it, here is a link to the video on the City's website. We have a permit issued by TP&W with a LIMIT of 250 deer that we can trap a year - this is an upper limit and we have not trapped that number for many years - generally we trap between 100 and 125 deer that are transported to a processor and the meat is donated to those in need.
There has been a lot of conversation about a census. TP&W uses our system as an example of tracking herd numbers - we keep a record of deer hit by cars and other deaths - it lets us determine if the herd is larger or smaller and seems to be fairly accurate. We have asked them about doing a census and they tell us data collected in an urban area is flawed. We reached out to a deer management expert suggested by the census folks, Dr. James Kroll, here is a quote from his letter - "We have noted many times that accurately estimating the population size of deer herds over any large area, including Lakeway, is the “LaBrea Tar Pits” of deer management! We say this, since it is extremely difficult to accurately estimate herd size. The unfortunate result seems to always be that the public has very little trust in estimates, since the average citizen tends to judge accuracy by the number of deer he/she regularly sees near to or on their property."
Continuing in our quest to learn all we can and be responsible in this endeavor, we reached out to USDA's Wildlife Management Department. They agreed there is no good protocol for conducting a reliable deer census in an Urban setting such as Lakeway. However they are interested in looking further into the issue and we think they will work with us to work on developing a protocol - including a way to do a census at their cost. We expect to hear from them in January with an outline of their suggested process.
Deer could be transported and released to ranches, however before that is an option, TP&W would require a survey of the ranch or property be done and a permit obtained by the property owner. The property owner would also be expected to pay for some of the transportation costs. If you know someone interested, have them contact TP&W.
Chemical sterilization or spaying is not really an option in Texas and would not be recommended unless the area is totally fenced - unlikely in our case. Deer would still have to be trapped since darting is not an option in an urban area.
I hope this clears up some of the confusion - more as I find out.
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Lakeway Regional Medical Center has issued an advisory on the construction and businesses in the Lakeway Medical Village site - here is a link to the advisory!
Chessie met with Lakeway Medical Village about their plans for medical office buildings in their project. She also met with a developer interested in bidding on the 82 acre LMUD property on the market.
Julie Oakley reports “There is free latex paint and other recycled items available for pick-up from the Lake Travis Regional Recycle and Reuse Center event held on December 2nd. Residents may call Public Works if they would like to make an appointment to pick up any items from the Re-Use Center between event dates. The next event will be held on Wednesday, March 2nd, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Residents may visit our website for a list of acceptable and unacceptable items.”
The street light at Lohmans and Lakeway Blvd. has been reported and is in the process of being replaced - it may take a couple of months to get it delivered and installed.
From the Chief:
Patrol: Routine traffic stops resulted in the following charges, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia X 2.
Officers responded to a Suspicious Vehicle call on Dave Drive. An unoccupied vehicle was located and a short time later three subjects were located in a wooded area. The subjects were charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia as a result of this investigation.
Officers responded to a Dragon St. address and took a report of a Burglary of a Business, which was described as a storage facility on Kollmeyer Drive. The reporting subject reports several items stolen from a storage unit.
Officers responded to a Disturbance call at a S. RR 620 address, it was determined to be verbal only, the subjects were separated and no charges were filed.
Officers responded to a Water Front Skyway address for a Deceased Person call, a subject at the residence was under Hospice care and had passed away.
Officers responded to a Theft in progress call at a RR 620 business. Upon arrival officers were told that two subjects had fled the business with stolen items, a suspect was apprehended a short time later and charged with theft and possession of a controlled substance. The other subject has been identified and a warrant will be issued shorty for his arrest, this case is still under investigation.
Officers assisted Travis County Deputies with apprehending suspects who robbed at gunpoint a Pace Bend convenience store. Officers located the suspect vehicle and made a traffic stop on the vehicle. Officers and Deputies located a gun and cash in the car, three adult suspects were arrested.
Criminal Investigations Unit: Detectives with the CIU assisted with the investigation of a theft from a business on RR 620. The suspects fled the scene prior to LPD officers arriving. However, Bee Cave PD officers spotted the suspect/vehicle in their city and made contact with the driver. Detectives were able to interview the suspect, who confessed and implicated his friend in the thefts. The suspect was arrested for the offenses of theft and possession of a controlled substance. Detectives are in the process of identifying further stolen property that was located in the vehicle and issuing warrants for the suspects arrest for some other prior thefts.
Detectives were notified that patrol officers spotted and detained three suspects in an armed robbery that occurred in Travis County’s jurisdiction (convenience store on Pace Bend Road). The suspects matched the M.O. and description from several prior armed robberies in the county as well as an armed robbery that occurred in the 500 block of RR620 South in Lakeway. Detectives are working with TCSO Major Crimes to charge the suspects.
APO (Animal Protection Officer) was assigned to investigate a report of a dog bite in the 700 block of Vanguard. The dog and the owners were identified and the owner was cited for a violation of city ordinance (Animal Attack).
CIU detectives were assigned to investigate a report of a missing person. According to the subject’s parents, the adult missing person suffers from mental illnesses and had severed contact with friends and family members. The subject was entered into TCIC/NCIC as a missing person. CIU personnel were able to track the subject down in Miami Beach, FL and received confirmation from the Miami Beach Police Department that the subject is alive and healthy.
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We were notified that LCC has approved our request for almost $60K to fund a landscaping project at the entrance to Hamilton Greenbelt - thank you! This will be done after the entrance and parking lot are completed, scheduled for early next year.
That's about it for today, please be safe this holiday season! It's a wonderful time of the year!
Joe Bain
lakeway@bain.us
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