*****Weather*****
Ok, get ready! Winter is going to be back tomorrow! 80° today and projected high tomorrow of 46° with a freeze on the way. Maybe a little rain too - looks kind of yucky for the next couple of days. Here's a link to the weather station on the 15th Tee of Live Oak - it might be fun to watch it....
*****Council Results*****
Council met last night in a "Special Session". Here is the meeting packet. Here is a link to the video. The term "Special Session" seems to lose it's meaning when it is scheduled regularly. The Mayor called it a "Work Session" also and that might be interpreted incorrectly.
8) They heard Item 8 first, Chief Radford made a presentation on an opportunity to expand the interlocal agreement from just dispatching Bee Cave to include Westlake Hills and Rollingwood. Currently those cities are dispatched by Travis County and there have been some issues. The two new cities would absorb their portion of the cost of dispatching and also a portion of the staff and facility. This would benefit the city by saving Lakeway about $100K a year.
Currently Lakeway dispatch handles about 96 calls per day at about an answer rate of 97.58% of calls answered in under 10 seconds. The addition of the two cities would add about 27 calls per day, on average.
The Chief feels like they can handle that and still stay above 90% and save some money. Council moved to continue and have Chief Radford bring the agreement to council.
9) Was supposed to be a presentation on Governance headed up by Mastrangelo.
Of course, it's whatever the council wants to make of the liaison position - it's always been a conduit from the committee to the council, but if they want to run the committees, why have them?
Nevertheless, it was postponed at his request.
4-5) Council headed off into Executive Session at 6:48 p.m. they returned at 7:47 p.m.
6) Bond Discussion - First a list of items currently on list.
- $1.2M 2 Lane addition of Main St. - It's my understanding that Legend Communities could furnish the ROW (negotiable) - this would just be from Lohmans to the Stratus property. I think $1.2 seems pretty light considering underground drainage, curb and gutter and a median. The traffic study showed that 2 lanes could carry the traffic easily. If the city doesn't further delay the project, it could probably start in 12 months or so. (No cost option)
- SUP (Shared Use Path) $4.5M - I don't have a good handle on exactly what this is. The maps are confusing and the initial estimate of costs were about $8.02M. I suspect this is part of that.
- Sidewalk improvement $3.15M - same as above.
- Justice Center Revamp - $2.1M - This would be to re-purpose the old police station for Building and Development. The original estimates were in the $300-500K range. This must be a much more extensive remodel.
- City Hall Remodel - $300K - this is just to remodel the existing City Hall, it does not include any expansion.
- Pedestrian Bridge at Justice Center from parking lot to pathway under bridge to Hamilton Greenbelt. $325K
- Parking Lot and Rest Room for Serene Hills Park - $1.2M
- All inclusive playground (somewhere in Lakeway Parks) $500K
Another tidbit - It appears they have hired a "Parks Master Planner" to come on line this Fall.
There are concerns that the ROW costs for the 620 project may increase the bond size. After all was said and done, with the deadline for any bond in May looming at February 14, 2020, they decided to move forward without a bond in May and postponed it.
7) Ordinance for a Bond Election was not needed was postponed.
8) The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee gave a report / update. Council listened and then made extensive changes.
Meeting adjourned at 11:13 p.m.
Both Springhill Suites and La Quinta are promising to be open in the next month or so. We'll see!
The Ladies of Charity's new building in the Hospital District is moving ahead pretty quickly - they will be in there in two or three months.
The Lakeway Church construction is starting to move forward too. Looks like the slab will be poured soon!
7) Ordinance for a Bond Election was not needed was postponed.
8) The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee gave a report / update. Council listened and then made extensive changes.
Meeting adjourned at 11:13 p.m.
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*****Sports Park*****
Evidently there is an issue with water / wastewater at the Sports Park project. The County is working with the MUD and the PUA on a water agreement - should have an answer around the 7th. 90% complete on the design, they have irrigation wells on the site drilled. Because of projected cost over runs they have had to decrease the number of playing fields slightly.
*****Lakeway Directory*****
If you haven't done it yet, don't forget to add yourself to the Lakeway Directory so you will be in there when it's printed. Here's a link to the web site - www.lakewaydirectory.com where you can search for folks and also add you name, address and phone number.
*****Lakeway Construction*****
Both Springhill Suites and La Quinta are promising to be open in the next month or so. We'll see!
The Ladies of Charity's new building in the Hospital District is moving ahead pretty quickly - they will be in there in two or three months. 
The Lakeway Church construction is starting to move forward too. Looks like the slab will be poured soon!
That's all for today - more tomorrow after ZAPCO. If you want to be added (or removed) from the email list, just send a note to lakeway@bain.us and I'll get it done. Thanks to all those for the support and interest in what's going on in our little city!
Joe Bain
Why is it necessary to have so many executive successions? Isn't there something that can be taken care of prior to the council meeting?
ReplyDeleteExecutive Sessions are an important part of some processes. Buying property is an example where prices could go up if negotiations were public. Personnel issues are another example.
DeleteThat being said, do they need this many? I think it's a little too much. Eventually there should be reports on what is the object of discussion.