Lake Travis - Westlake Edition | December 2024

Government

BY HALEY MCLEOD & KAROLINE PFEIL

Lakeway prepares for charter election Lakeway City Council held a special meeting Dec. 2 to discuss proposed amendments to the Lakeway City Charter put forward by the council, staff, and the city’s Charter Review Committee. Diving deeper Some of the proposed changes include removing certain boards and city positions and removing the residency requirement for city managers. The discussion included debate on if item 16, which shifts the responsibility of approving updates on police policies from City Council to the city manager, who would provide council oversight to the police department. Additional concerns were raised over the dissolution of the Board of Ethics. A revised version several items will be brought to the council’s January meeting, and if approved, a special election will be called for May 3.

West Lake Hills shares new fire safety plans West Lake Hills is putting forward plans to improve its fire safety. Announced at a council meeting Nov. 13, the city has approved a Firewise USA Site Community Wildfire Action Plan, which is designed to increase outreach, implementa- tion and education efforts for fire safety in West Lake Hills over the next three years. A few action items listed under Year 1 in 2025 include: • Developing online resources for education on fire safety • Maintaining tree canopy of public streets and city-owned properties • Aligning vegetative debris management communications to property owners • Holding evacuation drills

Charter updates

Among the 17 proposed changes to the charter, City Council will revisit the following in January:

ITEMS 1, 2, 7

Removing certain boards and city positions, including city treasurer, City Building Commission and Board of Ethics

ITEM 13

Updating appointment process and terms for board, commission and committee members

ITEM 16

Allowing city manager to approve police policy and procedures

ITEM 17

Removing residency requirement for city manager

SOURCE: CITY OF LAKEWAY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

TravCo sees first decline in opioid overdoses in 3 years Local and state officials announced Dec. 2 that Travis County has been awarded a $1.6 million federal grant to launch a jail-based substance use intake program as recent data shows the first decline in accidental opioid deaths in more than launching a jail-based substance use intake program, which will be overseen by the county’s Health and Human Services Department, Sheriff’s office, and Integral Care.

Opioid-related deaths in Travis County Fentanyl-related

All accidental opioid deaths

400

300

200

The program will utilize medication-assisted treatment alongside harm reduction approaches and peer recovery support within the Travis County jail system and follow an individual as they reenter the community.

three years. The details The latest federal funding will join local efforts,

100

0

2022

2023

2024

SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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