September Regular City Council Meeting Recap
City Council met in regular session on the evening of Monday, Sept. 20 at Lakeway City Hall. Here is a brief recap from that meeting:

BUDGET/LOWER TAX RATE APPROVAL
City Council approved in a record vote (with one councilmember not present) both the FY 2022 budget and a lower tax rate of .1545, which is the lowest tax rate in Lakeway's history. The approved budget and tax rate will take effect on October 1, which is the beginning of the City's fiscal year. CLICK HERE to read more about the approved budget and tax rate.

FINANCIALS
The City of Lakeway finance director gave an update on the current state of this year's fiscal year budget. As the FY 2021 fiscal year is wrapping up, there is an additional $1,567,884 in revenue, and savings in the amount of $193,227 on the expenditures portion of the budget.

H-E-B SERENE HILLS
City Council approved (with one councilmember not present) a final plat for H-E-B Serene Hills, which would be located near the intersection of Highway 71 and Serene Hills Drive.

HILLSONG DEVELOPMENT
City Council approved (with one councilmember not present and one opposed vote) the Preliminary Plan for a development known as Hillsong, which would be located near the intersection of Flint Rock Rd. and Wild Cherry. The subdivision would consist of 126 detached single-family residential homes. The approval by City Council included an amendment to add a traffic measure to ensure vehicles only make right turns in and out of the property at Flint Rock Rd. without inhibiting emergency vehicles.

VICTIMS SERVICES
City Council approved (with one councilmember not present) a renewed interlocal agreement between the City of Lakeway and the City of Bee Cave regarding victims services. The victims services coordinator is employed by both cities through this agreement, which started in March of 2020.

CLICK HERE to view the full video and agenda from this week's city council meeting.
Recycling Resources
Understanding what you can and cannot recycle can get a little confusing. From items you can recycle from the convenience of your home to items you may need to take to special drop-off locations, here are some helpful recycling guidance and resources:

There are plenty of items you can recycle using your trash/recycling services at your residence:

Recyclables:
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Cereal boxes
  • Soda/beverage boxes
  • Shoe boxes
  • Newspapers/magazines
  • Plastic containers (#1-#7)
  • Bottles and jars

Non-Recyclables:
  • Computers/TVs/flash drives
  • Pizza boxes
  • Paper towels/cups/plates
  • Plastic bags and packaging
  • Light bulbs
  • Mirrors
  • Porcelain & ceramics
  • Coat hangers

The City of Lakeway works with the Lake Travis Regional Reuse & Recycling Center located at 3207 Neidhardt Drive on free hazardous waste drop-off events on certain days of the year. The next one is being planned for this fall. More details will be released in the coming weeks. In the meantime, there are also other options for your convenience to recycle electronics, latex paint, batteries, lightbulbs, prescription medication and other items. CLICK HERE for information on those resources.

Free brush recycling is offered the first Thursday of every month from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Public Works Department located at 3303 Serene Hills Drive. Materials accepted include brush, tree trimmings (including oak trimmings thru Jan. 31), palm fronds and leaves. Please call (512) 608-9000 with any additional questions.
COVID-19 Update
Travis County remains in Stage 5 of the Austin Public Health risk-based guidelines. The guidelines recommend all individuals, whether vaccinated or not vaccinated, wear a proper face covering when engaging with others not from your household. The guidelines also recommend those not vaccinated avoid gatherings and activities unless essential.

Travis County continues to offer multiple COVID-19 vaccine distribution pop-up events throughout the weekend. No appointments are necessary. CLICK HERE for location details, and also for more on the Stage 5 restrictions.

A total of 113,743 positive cases have been reported to date in Travis County. There have been a total of 3,995 cases in the Lakeway area (zip codes 78734, 78738 and 78669) since the start of the pandemic (up 159 cases from the same time last week, compared to a rise of 210 cases the previous week). There are currently 3,045 active cases at this time in Travis County (down from 3,265 reported last week) and a seven-day moving average of 494 hospitalizations in the region (down from 520 last week). CLICK HERE to review the COVID-19 case dashboard. CLICK HERE for more details on hospitalizations.


NEW: Aging Well Expo

The annual Aging Well Expo will take place on Monday, September 27 starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Lakeway Activity Center (105 Cross Creek). The event will feature experts and professionals speaking on a variety of topics from "The Secrets of Aging Well" to "Products that Make Everyday Tasks Easier." An Aging Well 50+ Job Fair will take place at the same location that afternoon from 1-2:30 p.m. This event is free to the public. Flu shots will be available as well. A complimentary breakfast and lunch will be provided at the event, along with a complimentary goody bag. CLICK HERE for more details and for registration information.
NEW: Emergency Preps

There will be another opportunity to participate in a presentation on preparing your family for an emergency with the City's emergency management coordinator next week. The Lake Travis Community Library will host a virtual option on Tuesday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. September is Emergency Preparedness Month, so it's the perfect time to get your plan together in the event of a potential natural or man-made disaster. The presentation will also give important advice on what to prepare for in the event of another major winter storm. CLICK HERE for more information and to register for this free virtual event.
Sunday, Sept. 26 @ 4 PM
Monday, Sept. 27 @ 830 AM
Monday, Sept. 27 @ 530 PM