Lakeway City Council held a special meeting on Monday, July 11 at Lakeway City Hall. Here is a recap:
AV ZONING COMMITTEE UPDATE:
Aviation Zoning District Study Committee Chair Ron Massa gave a brief update on the committee's progress. The committee was formed earlier this year to review the current ordinance as it relates to the Lakeway Airpark. Possible recommendations from the committee discussed Monday, include: permitting flying clubs based on a special use permit; better defining and restricting primary flight training; clarifying permitted commercial operations; and a better definition and continued restrictions on night operations. The committee is working to finalize details and plans to present their recommendations to the Zoning & Planning Commission (ZAPCO) on August 3, 2022, and then recommendations to City Council on August 15, 2022.
PARKS PROJECTS REVIEW:
Parks & Recreation Director Andra Bennett gave a presentation on 11 potential parks projects that could be completed as part of the parks strategic plan. Those potential projects include updates to City Park, Heritage Park, Hurst Creek Greenbelt, the Activity Center and Swim Center grounds, among others. These projects were also discussed in a recent City Manager Town Hall held a few weeks ago, and those details can be found by CLICKING HERE. You can also find details in the City Council packet from Monday by CLICKING HERE (starting on page 4). City Council will work to prioritize the projects and discuss potential funding options at upcoming meetings. Have input on these projects? Email your comments to info@lakeway-tx.gov.
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS REVIEW:
Engineers with Walter P Moore gave an update on the 15 potential transportation projects discussed over the last few months. City Council took citizen input and identified projects for a potential bond. The bond attorney and financial advisor also gave an update on current and projected interest rates, along with other details for City Council about calling a potential bond election. City Council decided to have bond election language drafted for the August regular City Council meeting, which could be included in a formal vote. These transportation projects were also discussed at a City Manager Town Hall in April. CLICK HERE to see slides and a video presentation regarding those projects from that town hall. You can also CLICK HERE to review the City Council packet material from Monday night (starting on page 35). Have input on these projects? Email your comments to info@lakeway-tx.gov.
COVID-19 CITY GRANT FUNDING:
Assistant City Manager Joseph Molis presented more potential items to purchase from the nearly $4 million awarded from a grant associated with the American Rescue Plan Act (implemented during COVID) for the City of Lakeway, including a public access kiosk, online permitting system and automated/touchless public doors, as well as other equipment. That total came to $713,000. City Council voted in favor (7-0) of approving the purchase of that equipment from the grant funding. Future equipment and materials are also outlined on a spreadsheet provided to City Council to be brought forth for potential future approval.
FY 2023 BUDGET WORK SESSION:
City Manager Julie Oakley gave an initial presentation of the upcoming budget for FY 2023, which will start on October 1, 2022. The initial budget discussion showed a possible No New Revenue (NNR) tax rate (or rate at which the City of Lakeway would collect the same amount of property tax dollars as compared to the previous year) much lower than the current tax rate. City Manager Oakley calculated that NNR tax rate based on historical information, but will still need to await information from the county appraisal district that's due July 25 to formally incorporate a final NNR tax rate number into the budget. City Council discussed that if there is a revenue surplus this year, finding ways to further lower the tax rate for residents, fund future capital projects, or possibly increase the Homestead Exemption for those residents 65 and older. Several budget meetings will take place over the next few months for the public to get more information and comment. City Council will vote on the budget and tax rate at the regular City Council meeting in September.
If you're interested in reviewing the full video and agenda from Monday night's meeting, please CLICK HERE. If you'd like to provide feedback on any of these items, email comments to info@lakeway-tx.gov.