Serene Hills Dr, No Election and Council Agenda Explained + More!

*****Weather Of Course*****

Looks like another active week after a very nice weekend!  Made it to 80° Sunday and 80° forecast for Today (Monday).  Temps fall off for the middle of the week with some rain.  Some of the models showing up to 2 inches.  So, don't put those umbrellas away, looks like they might come in handy this week.

*****Serene Hills Dr. Update*****

Looks like Travis County Commissioner Daugherty came through for the Lakeway area again!  Serene Hills from Flintrock to The Hills Dr. is getting a face lift.  New asphalt has been put down and I'm sure new striping is coming soon.  This is a GREAT improvement for the area.  Much smoother and a safety improvement.

*****No Election / Signs*****

Well, the city had survived another Election / Non Election.  Although many complain, no one stepped up to run against the incumbents.  At least we won't have city election signs up, I'm already seeing primary election signs, many displayed illegally.  Just FYI, signs cannot be placed in Right of Way's, that means they need to be at least approximately 10' from the road.  A good rule of thumb is behind the utilities.  If there is a power pole, it is in the ROW - so the sign should be behind the poles.  Remember, these folks want to make the rules for you, shouldn't they follow them?  

*****Council Agenda*****

The City is closed today for Presidents Day so the meeting is Tuesday, February 18.  Here is the agenda / packet.  Only 30 items on this one, meeting should be over by midnight...

Items 1-13 include the consent agenda, so that will go quick.

14) Financial Report.  

15)  The Council is honoring Officer Hector Almaguer for his 25 years of service to the Lakeway Police Department.  He's a great guy and I'm really sorry to see him retire.  Congratulations Hector 

for your great service to the City.

16)  Discussion of the Liebelt Cabin Preservation.  This is the cabin that is located at the City Hall property.  

17)  Zoning Change 704 Serene Estates Dr. - lot in Serene Hills the developer is wanting to give to the community as a small pocket park.  ZAPCO recommended 6-1.

18)  Another amendment to the code of ordinances.  This one pertains to the general provisions of the Flood Hazard Prevention. 

19)  More discussion on Chapter 28 of the code.  Seems like once you start changing the rules, it never ends.  More money for the attorneys, my guess is the costs for ordinance changes is $750K +.  Shame that rules that worked well for 50 years are no longer any good.

20)  Grant Application resolution.  trying to get money from the state to support a Crime Victims Service Coordinator.  If the grant is denied, the city will be on the hook for $65K.

21)  Also doing an interlocal agreement with the City of Bee Cave to share the Crime Victim Service Coordinator.

22)  Ordinance to amend Chapter 10 - yup, another ordinance amendment - this one to allow food trucks for events.  

23)  Get ready, here comes another citizen survey.  

24)  Citizen Participation.

Now we get to the Executive Sessions.

25)  Purchase of land in South-Central Lakeway - Remember the discussion on the YMCA?  My guess is this is what that's about.  Remember, the Y wants the city to furnish the land and facility and they will manage it.  We did a study a few years back on this, that study said 70% of the people using a facility like this would come from outside the city - non tax payers.  I wonder if that has changed?  Or do they even care?

26)  Update for council on the two pending lawsuits over the Cherry Knoll issues.  This was property that was purchased for ROW for the Flintrock road.  Now the sellers are suing and since they signed a contract not to sue, the city is suing them.

27)  Project Granite - anybody know what this is?  Council has been meeting on it for months, no discussion and it has to do with an economic development prospect?  It's time for some information.  Sounds like more tax money expense.

28)  More discussion on the Oaks PUD / Stratus Property.  They've been meeting on this for months too,  seems like a little update to the city is in order on this one too.

29)  Ah, here we go.  Legal and Real Estate Issues Relating to Possible YMCA MOU (Memorandum of Understanding).  I thing the estimates were about $20 Million for the building and then the land.  The school has some land behind the elementary school that joins some of the MUD property that is under contract to Legends.  I guess density is no longer an issue in this area.

30)  Legal and Real Estate Issues relating to Lakeway Highlands / Rough Hollow Development Agreement.  Been meeting on this for months too - no discussion.

And that's it!  Info on the Executive Sessions are just assumptions on my part.  Of course, if I'm close on any of them, Louis will want to fire someone - who's left?

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That's all for today - we'll see what happens tomorrow.

Thanks for following the blog.  If you would like to be added to my email list, send a note to lakeway@bain.us and I'll get you added.

Joe Bain

lakeway@bain.us