West Lake Hills completes 2021 bond projects From the cover
Proposition A
The overview
In 2021, at the time of the city’s bond election, West Lake Hills struggled with both aging road infrastructure and aging city facilities. West Lake Hills’ previous City Hall was constructed in 1983 and is no longer compliant with city building codes, according to the city’s website. Priorities for the new City Hall, according to West Lake Hills’ website, included preservation of heritage trees, native landscaping, public use opportunities, and a natural design with a stone veneer.
Under Proposition A, $13.2 million in city funding was allocated for City Hall, with $9.5 million later added by the city to account for land acquisitions and cost escalations. The two-story complex includes rooms for City Council, municipal court, the city’s police station and administration. Facilities for each department have been upgraded from the previous City Hall, which was located at 911 Westlake Drive. Rotting wood and smaller rooms, which city information said were prone to ooding, have been replaced by tall glass windows and signi cantly larger council chambers. Voters also approved up to $11.8 million in funding for a road and drainage improvement program with Proposition B, of which $10.32 million was spent. As of September, all projects were completed. Both propositions passed in 2021 with over 60% of voters in West Lake Hills approving, according to the city’s website.
COURTESY SPAWGLASS West Lake Hills’ new council chamber can accommodate a signi cantly larger audience than the previous one.
West Lake Hills police salary changes
What it means
Base salary before June Base salary after June
A benefit of moving City Hall to Bee Caves Road is that it provides easier access for the city’s police department in responding to calls, Police Chief Scott Gerdes said. “Most of the activity we have is along the [Bee Caves Road] corridor,” Gerdes said. “Before, [when] we were on West Lake Drive, we’d have to get out of the police station, which was dicey at times in the morning traffic and especially the afternoon rush hour traffic. It was hard to get out.” Several facility upgrades have also been included for the police department. These include a new interview room with greater privacy, a new gym for officers, a break room and a locker room with increased storage. In addition to funding the new City Hall and police station within it, the city also provided pay raises to officers in June in an effort to assist with
Police officer
$60,216
$70,928
Corporal/detective
$69,680
Project funding City Hall $13.2M
$80,288
Sergeant
$80,288
$9.5M
$87,776
Proposition A
Additional city funding
Lieutenant
$91,936
$10.32M Road and drainage improvements
$105,040
SOURCE: CITY OF WEST LAKE HILLS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Proposition B
retention and recruitment. The department was fully staffed as of Sept. 18, Gerdes said.
SOURCE: CITY OF WEST LAKE HILLS COMMUNITY IMPACT
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