CITY & COUNTY
Top city & county stories to watch in 2023
2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE
Council seats up for election; city projects progress
OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2023
BY GRACE DICKENS
Travis County to call bond in 2023 In 2023, voters in Travis County can expect a November bond election that would go toward improving roads, parks and other facilities. The speci c projects and cost estimate for the bond will be determined by a 15-member Commissioners Court- appointed county Bond Advisory Committee, which will meet weekly to determine the county’s most critical needs. Commissioners are in the process of selecting committee members; applications for the committee closed Dec. 9. Each court member will appoint three residents to the committee, which will begin meeting in January and serve for about eight months. New library to open in Spicewood within the year The Lake Travis Community Library District purchased a 5,000-square- foot building for Lake Travis Community Library West. Near the intersection of Hwy. 71 and Bob Wire Road, the library will provide services to neighborhoods in the area, such as West Cypress Hills, Briarcli , Rough Hollow, Spicewood and Sweetwater. The west location will have access to books, audiobooks, DVDs, Chromebooks and several di erent types of programming, such as educational classes and book clubs. There will also be places to work and study within the facility.
UPGRADING FACILITIES The new police department and library in Bee Cave will o er several needed upgrades along with more space and facilities.
BEE CAVE A May election and progress on several projects included in the city’s capital improvement plan, or CIP, are on the horizon for Bee Cave in 2023. Following action taken at the Jan. 10 City Council meet- ing, the city will hold a general election in May for three seats whose terms are expiring, including Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Clark, Council Member Kevin Hight and Council Member Andrea Willott. The three new terms will go through May 2025. The l- ing date for candidacy runs through Feb. 17, and candidate packets are available on the city’s website. In addition to the election, the city will continue to make progress on projects included in the CIP. The CIP outlines major projects the city will tackle in the next ve years. Following the approval of the CIP in 2021, several projects began in 2022 as the city approved construction managers at-risk and design rms for projects, such as the new Bee Cave Police Department and the library.
Police department
Library
• $12 million • 17,600 square feet • Completion in 2 years
• $15 million • 24,000 square feet • Completion in 2 years
SOURCE: CITY OF BEE CAVE COMMUNITY IMPACT
In 2023, these projects will continue as design plans are solidi ed and construction eventually begins. In the next six to eight months, the city will work with local entities, architects and the construction manager to design the police facility and new library, which will be built at 13308 Hwy. 71, Bee Cave, on land adjacent to Bee Cave Central Park that is already owned by the city. The buildings are expected to be complete in 2025.
West Lake Hills bond projects continue
Lakeway to consider options for parks plan
BOND PROGRESS Following the passage of two bonds totaling $25 million in 2021, the city will continue work to put these projects in motion in 2023. PROPOSITION A:
BY GRACE DICKENS
BY GRACE DICKENS
WEST LAKE HILLS Work continues on projects in West Lake Hills following the success of the city’s $25 million bond in 2021 for drainage and municipal building improvements. The city is acquiring approvals for the drainage projects, totaling $11.8 million that target six roads citywide. Bidding for construction is set to begin in August. In May, the city closed on its land for an updated city hall. Construc- tion is expected to begin in early 2024 with completion in 2025.
LAKEWAY The city may turn its focus toward park improvements in the coming months. The original parks master plan outlined 11 major projects ranging in cost from $430,880 to $7.8 million. The plan went before council in 2021 and was opened for public comment in 2022. The parks department plans to revisit council in coming months to review the plan and determine a list of potential projects. Funding will be determined at that time, and the city may consider calling another bond.
New municipal building
$13.2M
Relocation of City Hall to Faith Bible Church at 4010 Bee Caves Road, West Lake Hills
PROPOSITION B:
Road and drainage improvements
$11.8M
71
Improvements to Redbud Trail, Westlake Drive, Laurel Valley Road, Camp Craft road, Yaupon Valley Road and Terrace Mountain Drive
N
SOURCE: CITY OF WEST LAKE HILLS COMMUNITY IMPACT
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LAKE TRAVIS WESTLAKE EDITION • JANUARY 2023
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