Cedar Park - Far Northwest Austin Edition | July 2023

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CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 3 JULY 19AUG. 15, 2023

HOME EDITION 2023

BEFORE

Cedar Park gains new animal hospital HOME EDITION 2023 SPONSORED BY • Velocity Credit Union

AFTER

Business oers home technology solutions

Renovations boom as local housing market slows For Christina Legrand, a Cedar Park resident and real estate agent, her home in Cypress Bend is almost unrecognizable from when she and her family moved in 14 years ago. Shortly after moving into their home built in 1991, Legrand and her husband began scraping the popcorn ceilings, painting walls and installing new ooring. Now the once-tradi- tional red brick home has a modern black and white exterior and inte- rior with a renovated kitchen, new windows, a new roof, a chimney, a replace and a screened-in patio. “Your house is your biggest investment,” Legrand said. “You can’t just let it fall apart around you. You have to maintain it.” Due to high interest rates and a decreasing number of new homes on the market, some Cedar Park and Northwest Austin homeowners such as Legrand are choosing to renovate instead of relocating, shedding light on the growing home renovation industry locally and nationwide, local industry experts said. CONTINUED ON 40 BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & CHLOE YOUNG Cedar Park resident Christina Legrand has renovated her kitchen along with many other projects in her home built in 1991. PHOTOS COURTESY CHRISTINA LEGRAND

Beer garden serves diverse menu for families

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Dell Children’s Medical Center is open near you! Now pediatric specialty care, including around-the-clock ER and trauma care, specialized surgical care, pediatric imaging, and outpatient rehab services, are right here, closer to where you live and work — without leaving Austin. You can schedule with specialists today! Many of our pediatric specialists are now in a new medical building on the same north campus, including gastroenterology, neurology and neuropsychology, general pediatric surgery and more. Ask your doctor about appointments closer to home on our north campus.

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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JULY 2023

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THIS ISSUE

MARKET TEAM GENERAL MANAGER Taylor Caranfa Stover Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today. We have expanded to include hundreds of team members and have created our own software platform and printing facility. CI delivers 35+ localized editions across Texas to more than 2.5 million residential mailboxes. GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sabrina Musachia ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Beth Burton METRO LEADERSHIP PUBLISHER Travis Baker MANAGING EDITOR Amy Denney COPY EDITOR Kasey Salisbury SENIOR ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Haley Grace CONTACT US 16225 Impact Way Pugerville, TX 78660 • 5129896808 CI CAREERS communityimpact.com/careers PRESS RELEASES cpfnews@communityimpact.com ADVERTISING cpfads@communityimpact.com Learn more at communityimpact.com/advertising EMAIL NEWSLETTERS communityimpact.com/newsletter SUPPORT US Join your neighbors by giving to the CI Patron program. Funds support our journalistic mission to provide trusted, local news in your community. Learn more at communityimpact.com/cipatron EDITOR Grace Dickens REPORTER Chloe Young ABOUT US Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH

FROM TAYLOR: The front-page story for this year’s Home Edition is a joint eort by two reporters, Chloe Young and Brittany Anderson, who dive into the trend of homeowners renovating their homes in Travis and Williamson counties rather than relocating. I hope you are inspired and informed by their reporting! You’ll nd that story and more home- and real estate-related content on Pages 20-41. Thank you for your readership! Taylor Caranfa Stover, GENERAL MANAGER tstover@communityimpact.com

FROM GRACE: Welcome to our annual Home Edition! Alongside local real estate news, trends and more, this issue takes a look at some new facilities and road projects on the way for Cedar Park residents as well as new businesses, safety measures and other news for Austin residents. As always, thank you for reading, and we hope you enjoy this issue! Grace Dickens, EDITOR gdickens@communityimpact.com

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CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JULY 2023

IMPACTS

Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding

LEANDER

EVANS ST.

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4 3

2243

W. BROADE ST.

LEANDER DR.

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Cheba Hut

5th Element Brewing

COURTESY 5TH ELEMENT BREWING

COURTESY CHEBA HUT

fee stand serves specialty coee sourced from across the country and makes exclu- sive syrups for dierent lattes. Matinee also sells chai and matcha tea along with chocolate and soda from Colorado. Even- tually, the plan is to incorporate food items on the menu, such as homemade pretzels, beer cheese and guava pastries. Located at 209 W. Broade St., Leander, Matinee Coee + Concessions is owned by Adam Rivera. 404-406-2706. 5 Education center Skill Samurai opened June 10 at 706 Leander Drive, Ste. 504, Leander. Skill Samurai is a STEM enrichment program geared toward chil- dren ages 6-16, oering coding, robotics and other programs. It will add math code in the fall. The education center also pro- vides after-school programs and camps accommodating all levels and ages. 512- 986-7415. www.skillsamurai.com COMING SOON 6 Cannabis-themed sandwich shop Cheba Hut is anticipating opening its rst Leander location in October. With the slogan “toasted” subs, Cheba Hut features a menu full of subs named after various strains of cannabis, though the food does not include the herb. The sandwich shop will also oer a full bar with at least 12 draft beers on tap as well as signature cocktails. Owned by father and son Joseph and Vincent DeMaiori- bus, the new location will be at 11620 W. Hero Way, Ste. 160, Leander. Cheba Hut has one other location in Central Austin. www.chebahut.com 7 A third location of Night Owl Bar will open in September in Old Town

Leander. Night Owl Bar will feature an upscale cocktail lounge inside with a family-friendly backyard Texas barbecue concept outside. Customers will also be able to grab a bite from the Nice To Meat You barbecue food truck. It will have a big display screen for movies and sporting events in the backyard. Night Owl Bar has locations in Austin and Round Rock. The third location will be at 203 N. Brushy St., Leander. Facebook: Night Owl Bar 8 Noble Delights Bakery is anticipating a soft opening in July at 2091 US 183, Ste. B, Leander. Owned by Regina Noble, Noble Delights Bakery will specialize in custom-made cakes, cookies, cupcakes and an assortment of desserts. Mini dessert options, such as creme brulee and in-store bakery cakes, will also be available. The bakery will also specialize in wedding cakes. Noble Delights Bakery will host a grand opening event Aug. 26 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 512-766-7703. www.nobledelightsbakery.com 9 Pizza Twist Taco Twist is expecting to open its rst Austin-area location in late fall. Originating in California, Pizza Twist Taco Twist will oer an Indian twist on pizza and taco concepts. The menu fea- tures Indian fusion pizza, wings, appetizers and tacos. Owned by franchisee Mandeep Bal, the new location is at 13920 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Bldg. 2, Ste. 205, Leander, in the new Shops at Reagan’s Hope retail center. Pizza Twist has over 60 locations nationwide. www.pizzatwist.com 10 Snooze an A.M. Eatery is coming to Cedar Park in 2024 at 1915 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park. The modern break- fast spot oers an extensive menu from pancakes to Benedicts to tacos, lighter

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VISTA RIDGE BLVD.

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ANDERSON MILL RD.

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CEDAR PARK & LEANDER NOW OPEN 1 AJ’s Yotas LLC opened its rst store- front in March at 2301 W. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park. The shop provides auto repairs, maintenance and modication services for Toyota or Lexus 4x4s, spe- cializing in Toyota Land Cruisers. Owner AJ Llano started the business out of his home garage in 2022 and has 15 years of experience in auto repairs. 737-333-9652. www.instagram.com/ajyotas 2 Local brewpub 5th Element Brewing opened June 30 in Old Town Leander after several years of delays at 100 E. Evans Street, Leander. 5th Element Brewing

45 TOLL run and play area for kids in the future. The brewery was originally set to open at the end of 2018 but was delayed due to the pandemic and rising material costs. www.5thelementbrewing.com LAKELINE MALL DR. 3 Leander Jewelry opened in mid-May at 301 N. US 183, Ste. A., Leander. Owned by Shadan Jeezan, the business sells a variety of jewelry options, including pieces made with silver and gold. Additionally, Leander Jewelry oers repair services, and appraises and buys jewelry. 512-502-2440. www.leanderjewelry.co 4 Matinee Coee + Concessions opened in Wildre Park in April. The cof- produces artisan beer created with water proles built from scratch for each brew, co-owner Mike Brune said. The brewpub features a beer garden with plans for a dog

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Snooze an A.M. Eatery

Noble Delights Bakery

COURTESY SNOOZE AN A.M. EATERY

COURTESY NOBLE DELIGHTS BAKERY

Soul Decisions Coaching

Leander Athletic Club

COURTESY JOHN KELLY

COURTESY LEANDER ATHLETIC CLUB

EXPANSIONS 12 Leander Athletic Club expanded its facility at 190 N. Bagdad Road, Ste. D-3, Leander, in May. The expansion included the opening of the Vitality Bar, yoga and Pilates studios, a cycle studio, a kids club, and a wellness and recovery center, adding an additional 11,000 square feet. The well- ness and recovery center features red-light therapy, compression, cryotherapy and IV drip therapy, among other services. 512- 876-1855. www.leanderathleticclub.com CLOSINGS 13 Lucy’s Fried Chicken closed June 25 at 401 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. A-108, Cedar Park, a representative with the business said. The restaurant served fried chicken, chicken fried steak, burgers, sandwiches and pies alongside a full bar. The remaining South Congress Avenue-area location at 2218 College Ave., Austin, is still open. www.lucysfriedchicken.com

breakfast options and a cocktail menu. Snooze was founded in 2006 in Denver by brothers Jon and Adam Schlegel and is now a national chain with locations across the country. The company uses sustainably sourced ingredients and donates sales to local charities. www.snoozeeatery.com RELOCATIONS 11 Soul Decisions Coaching relocated its Bowen therapy services to Cedar Park Re- exology on May 1 at 1464 E. Whitestone Blvd., Bldg. 2, Ste. 202, Cedar Park. Owner Becky Kelly previously provided the thera- py from her home in North Austin. Bowen therapy is a hands-on, gentle approach to healing that stimulates the nervous system to help improve circulation, reduce pain and promote relaxation. The therapy is eective in treating various health con- cerns, such as pain, anxiety, stress, sleep disorders and digestive problems, Kelly said. Appointments can be made online. www.souldecisionscoaching.com

On-call veterinarian technicians can determine pet needs virtually in the event of an emergency to assess care needs.

COURTESY VCA ANIMAL HOSPITALS

FEATURED IMPACT NOW OPEN VCA Animal Hospitals Urgent Care - Cedar Park opened June 7 at 115 S. Lakeline Blvd., Bldg. 1, Ste. 120, Cedar Park. The urgent care clinic provides pets with same-day and next-day care for “important but non-emergent needs,” said Lauren Herrmann, VCA Animal Hospitals external communications manager. Immediate assistance is available for allergic reactions, eye issues, ear infections, rashes and skin issues, acute toxin ingestion and more, she said. Through VCA’s 24/7 online live chat, pet owners can connect with on-call veterinarian technicians who can

assess their pet’s condition and advise them on whether they should visit the urgent care clinic or an emergency room. Pet owners can also view appointment wait times online and join a virtual waiting room until arriving at the urgent care clinic. 737-279-8764 www.vcahospitals.com

OAKMONT FOREST DR.

CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JULY 2023

IMPACTS

Businesses that have recently opened or are coming soon, relocating or expanding

FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN NOW OPEN 1 Biryani Garden opened at 12221 Riata Trace Parkway, Ste. 190, Austin, in May in Plaza Riata. The restaurant offers a variety of Indian dishes, such as curries; kababs; naan; and biryani, including Mandi biryani, an Arabic dish with chicken and rice. 737-802-3111. www.biryanigarden.com 2 Conmaye Mexican Bar and Grill host- ed a soft opening June 28 in Northwest Austin at 10700 Anderson Mill Road, Ste. 109, Austin. The new restaurant is the first dining room and full bar experience by Taconmaye owners Carlos Zuniga, An- gie Zuniga, Daniel Delgado and Stephanie Delgado. Conmaye serves Taconmaye’s al pastor and carne asada tacos, nachos, and birria as well as new items, such as sea- food and plate options. 512-693-8226. www.conmaye.com 3 Fuse Workspace , a coworking space and office rental company, opened in Four Points at 7710 N. RM 620, Bldg. 13-D, Austin, on July 3. Fuse offers memberships and rentals for coworking spaces, private and virtual offices, dedicated desks, meeting rooms and event spaces. The Four Points location features 104 private offices and provides professionals with daily and monthly coworking passes, a professional business address with telephone and mail service, and hourly meeting spaces. The

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AVERY RANCH BLVD.

LAKELINE MALL DR.

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PECAN PARK BLVD.

ANDERSON MILL RD.

Fuse Workspace

COURTESY FUSE WORKSPACE

LAKE CREEK PKWY.

new location is open for tours, which can be booked on Fuse’s website. 512-768- 5800. www.fuseworkspace.com 4 SuperBrows & Facial Spa opened in McNeil Crossing in April at 6001 W. Parm- er Lane, Ste. 210, Austin. The spa special- izes in eyebrow threading, body waxing, facials, lash services and henna art. The spa is open seven days a week and welcomes walk-ins for eyebrow threading and waxing, which are usually completed within minutes, owner Rachana Niroula said. To make appointments for larger services, such as full-body waxing, bikini and Brazilian waxing, or facials, custom- ers can text 512-774-7444. 5 Commercial construction firm W.E. O’Neil opened its Northwest Austin office at 8868 Research Blvd., Ste. 500, Austin, on June 1. W.E. O’Neil builds retail, office,

LOS INDIOS TRL.

620

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RIATA TRACE PKWY.

SPICEWOOD SPRINGS RD.

2222

NORTHGATE BLVD.

PUTNAM DR.

MAP NOT TO SCALE

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Scan the QR code for details.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

COMPILED BY BRITTANY ANDERSON & CHLOE YOUNG

Popshelf

O’Reilly Auto Parts

Happy Cat Hotel & Spa offers overnight stays and a variety of grooming treatments for cats.

GRACE DICKENS/COMMUNITY IMPACT

COURTESY POPSHELF

COURTESY HAPPY CAT HOTEL & SPA

FEATURED IMPACT COMING SOON Happy Cat Hotel & Spa will open its rst Texas location at 13581 Pond Springs Road, Austin, this fall. Happy Cat oers short- and long-term stays for cats whose owners need to board their cats while they go on vacation, take a business trip, move, renovate their home or deal with an emergency. The North Austin facility will have 27 individually themed suites ranging from 30-60 square feet with climbing equipment, bedding, toys, fountains, windows, webcams and more; luxury suites will include TVs. The “Kitty Concierge” team also oers daily room service, playtime

government, entertainment and tech- nology spaces, among others. The office location was the site of Austin-based construction company DCA Construction, which W.E. O’Neil acquired in May 2022. W.E. O’Neil’s Austin office serves the entire state but focuses on Central Texas’ multifamily, hospitality and retail markets as well as aviation, health care, higher education and senior living. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and has 12 other offices across six states. 512-454-9000. www.weoneil.com COMING SOON 6 O’Reilly Auto Parts is slated to open a new location at 12489 Los Indios Trail, Austin. The store’s tentative opening date is July 29, a representative with the business said. O’Reilly Auto Parts offers a

variety of auto services plus accessories and tools. www.oreillyauto.com 7 PopShelf , a discount retail store, will begin work on a new store in Lakeline Plaza this summer at 11066 Pecan Park Blvd., Bldg. A, Unit 111, Cedar Park. The chain sells home and seasonal decor, beauty and health products, arts and crafts, and household and specialty items with most items costing $5 or less. www.popshelf.com CLOSINGS 8 Taconmaye ’s Lakeline Mall food court location closed June 26 at 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive, Cedar Park. The business has a food truck in Georgetown and a kitchen at Red Horn Brewery & Roastery in Leander. www.conmaye.com

and enrichment time plus daily text message, email and picture updates to owners. In addition to overnight stays, the facility will oer spa and grooming services from nail trims to a full groom with a bath and a blow dry. 512-400-0603 www.happycathotel.com

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IT PAYS TO BE WATER THRIFTY. Save water. Save money.

Find out how at WaterThiftyCedarPark.org.

Austin Habitat for Humanity

CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JULY 2023

TODO LIST

July, August & September events

BY CHLOE YOUNG

AUG. 19

PAINT AND UNWIND WHITESTONE BREWERY

AUG. 26

CHECK OUT AUSTIN’S BATS CONGRESS BRIDGE

Paint Nite will host a paint-along event at Whitestone Brewery led by local artist Erika Sutter. The registration fee includes all materials needed to recreate a painting with step-by-step instruction in two hours. Participants must be age 21 or older. 7 p.m. $35. 601 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 500, Cedar Park. 512-887-8938. www.paintnite.com

Austin’s annual Bat Fest celebrates the nightly emergence of Austin’s bat population at Congress Bridge. The 2023 event will include two stages with live music from artists including George Birge, Tim Dugger and Mike Jones. 4 p.m.-midnight. $25 (early bird), $30 (general admission). 100 S. Congress Ave., Austin. 512-441-9015. www.roadwayevents.com

The annual Cedar Park Rodeo is returning to the HEB Center at Cedar Park in August.

JULY 29 RELAX AND REFRESH Aloft Austin Round Rock will host a Beer Yoga event on-site with instructor Sarah Pegues. The event allows attendees to relax while practicing yoga and drinking a cold beer. A ticket to the event includes admission plus two free beverages, including beer, wine or zero-proof beverages. 7-9 p.m. $40. 2951 Jazz St., Round Rock. 737-615-4408. Eventbrite: Beer Yoga with Sarah Pegues at the Aloft Austin Round Rock 29 SWIM TO LIVE MUSIC will host a pool party with live music. Tickets for the all-day event include admission to the water park and a performance from Talking Heads tribute band HeartByrne, an afterparty with DJ Papa Glitch and family-friendly music from Radha’s School of Music. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. $27 (general admission). 16107 FM 2769, Ste. D, Leander. 512-524-9663. Eventbrite: Sunbyrne The Ultimate Talking Heads Pool Party with HeartByrne 30 WATCH A WRESTLING MATCH World Wrestling Entertainment will present its NXT Great American Volente Beach Resort & Waterpark

parties, waterpark and sports events, video games and arcade games with access to concerts, performers and live acts, media and industry guests, artists, DJs, and vendors. Time varies by day and event. $25-$165. 3001 Kalahari Blvd., Round Rock. www.colossalcontexas.com 25 SHOW OFF YOUR SMARTS Austin Public Library will hold a summer trivia night at its Spicewood Springs Branch for ages 18 and up. Hosted by Geeks Who Drink, the event allows with up to six players can compete for prizes. Nonalcoholic drinks and snacks will be provided. Registration is available online. 7-8:30 p.m. Free. 8637 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin. 512-974-3800. Eventbrite: Summer Trivia Nights SEPTEMBER 24 SEE THE DALLAS STARS The National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars will play in a preseason game at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park against the Arizona Coyotes. The game will take place following the Dallas Stars’ three- day 2023-24 training camp at the center Sept. 21-23. 5 p.m. $40-$125. 2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park. 512-600-5000. www.hebcenter.com

Bash at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park. The event features WWE stars Tiany Stratton, Carmelo Hayes, Bron Breakker, Dragon Lee, Roxane Perez and Wes Lee. 5:30 p.m. (doors open), 6:30 p.m. (event begins). $20-$150. 2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park. 512-600-5000. www.hebcenter.com AUGUST 05 RIDE AN ENCHANTED TRAIN The Princess Flyer, a princess- themed train ride by the Austin Steam Train Association, will depart from the Cedar Park Depot. The 44-mile train ride will last 3 1/2 hours with a 15-minute layover and feature the Professional Princess Team from Central Texas Theatre Academy. 8 a.m. (doors open), 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (train ride). $35-$55. 401 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. C-100, Cedar Park. 512-915-2340. www.austinsteamtrain.org 18 THROUGH 20 IMMERSE IN JAPANESE CULTURE Colossalcon Texas 2023, a three-day Japanese gaming, animation and culture event, will take place at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Round Rock. The convention includes cosplaying, dance

COURTESY GARY MILLERHEB CENTER AT CEDAR PARK

FEATURED EVENT CEDAR PARK RODEO The annual Cedar Park Rodeo is returning to the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park on Aug. 11-12. The rodeo includes two nights of saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, girls breakaway roping and barrel racing, team roping, and mutton busting. Aug. 12 will include a preshow of mutton busting and a happy hour. Tickets are now on sale. 6:30 p.m. (Aug. 11), 5:30 p.m. (Aug. 12) $20-$30 (ages 2-12), $25-$35 (over age 12). 2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park 512-600-5000 www.hebcenter.com

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Find more or submit Cedar Park-Far Northwest Austin events at communityimpact.com/event-calendar. Event organizers can submit local events online to be considered for the print edition. Submitting details for consideration does not guarantee publication.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

Live music in and around Cedar Park-Far Northwest Austin

COMPILED BY CHLOE YOUNG

HEB CENTER 2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park 512-600-5000 www.hebcenter.com JULY 29 Vive Chihuahua Fest with La Maquinaria Norteña, La Fiera De Ojinaga, La Energía Norteña & more, 7 p.m. SHOOTERS CEDAR PARK 601 E. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park 512-260-2060 www.shootersbilliards.net JULY 29 A. Wright, 9 p.m. AUGUST 04 The Genders, 9 p.m. 05 The Weak Knights, 9 p.m. 12 American Gypsy Band, 9 p.m. 19 Maxband, 9 p.m. 25 Suede, 9 p.m. SHOOTERS AUSTIN 11416 N. RM 620, Austin 512-401-2060 www.shootersbilliards.net JULY

28 Type A, 9 p.m. 29 The Peterson Brothers, 8 p.m. AUGUST 04 LC Rocks, 9 p.m. 05 90s Grunge Night, 9 p.m. 11 Eclipse: A Tribute to Journey, 9 p.m. 12 Lixbox, 9 p.m. 18 Suede, 9 p.m. 25 3 PC & a Biscuit, 9 p.m. STEAMER LANE MUSIC & EVENTS 603 Brushy Creek Road, Cedar Park 512-431-6279 www.steamerlanemusic.com AUGUST

FEATURED ARTIST R&B group Jodeci will perform at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park in August. Members JoJo, K-Ci, DeVante Swing and Mr. Dalvin released their debut album, “Forever My Lady,” in 1991 and released two more in 1993 and 1995. The group got back together in 2021 and went on a 30-city tour in 2022. The Cedar Park performance will also feature special guests Joe and Tamar Braxton. COURTESY HEB AT CEDAR PARK Jodeci released their rst album in 1991 and got back together in 2021 before going on tour.

19 Gus Miller Band, 8 p.m. THE WATER TANK 7309 McNeil Road, Austin 512-331-9831 www.austinwatertank.com JULY 26 Ty Grubb, 6 p.m. 28 Justin Neil, 6 p.m. 29 Miller Creek Crowd, 7 p.m. AUGUST 05 Clint Manning Band, 7 p.m.

HEB CENTER 2100 Avenue of the Stars, Cedar Park 512-600-5000 www.hebcenter.com

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AUGUST 25 Jodeci, 7:30 p.m.

DMV DMV DMV ADDRESS: 1234 Sesame 34 Sesa St t r eet DMV ADDRESS: 1234 Sesame Street 123 Main Street 123 Main Street State law requires the Mobility Authority to use the address on file with Department of Motor Vehicles registration records. The Mobility Authority mails all bills and late notices via First-Class Mail as required by law. First-Class Mail is assumed delivered if not returned.

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE Mobility Authority

Navigating the tolling landscape can be complicated. We’re the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, and we’re here to help you understand important pieces of the tolling puzzle, like what we do and how your toll bill works.

The Mobility Authority is not the only toll operator

Late payment fees do apply

The Mobility Authority is not TxTag

We accept a variety of electronic tags

There’s a reason you might get a bill in the mail even if you have an electronic tag

There are payment options everywhere

Keep your electronic tag account in good standing

We use your address on file with the DMV for bills

Learn what to do when you sell your car

Using the Pay By Mail program costs you more

WE’RE ALWAYS HERE TO HELP

To learn more fast facts about paying your Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority toll bill, visit us at MobilityAuthority.com/tolling101.

CEDAR PARK FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JULY 2023

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES City plans to extend life of neighborhood roadways

CABALLO RANCH BLVD.

ROUTINE CARE Nine neighborhoods in Cedar Park will undergo the process of sealing minor cracks. Day 1: A road sealant will be applied, followed by a washed concrete sand layer. Day 2: A street sweeper will sweep excess sand. SOURCE: CITY OF CEDAR PARKCOMMUNITY IMPACT

BY CHLOE YOUNG

Residents in several Cedar Park neighborhoods can expect to see the lifespan of their streets extended as City Council approved Reclamite Asphalt Rejuvenator treatment in May. The details: Pavement Restoration Inc. will apply almost 500,000 square yards of Reclamite Asphalt Rejuvenator to residential roadways in nine neighborhoods across the city, including Trento, Ranch at Deer Creek, Cypress Canyon, Twin Creeks Country Club, Bella Vista, Reserve at Twin Creeks, Caballo Ranch, Walsh Trails and Park at Brushy Creek. Reclamite, which lasts for four to six years, seals minor cracking and extends the life cycle of streets, said Chris Brickey, the city’s capital projects manager. He described the treatment to Cedar Park City Council at a May 25 meeting as “a moisturizer for asphalt.” The city selects residential streets for the project each year based on their age and need, Brickey said. Cedar Park City Council approved this year’s project at a May 25 meeting by

BRUSHY CREEK

CABALLO RANCH

WALSH TRAILS

RANCH TRAILS

Resurfacing work for Vista Ridge Boulevard began June 6 and continued until July 3.

TRENTO

BRUSHY CREEK RD.

183A TOLL

PARK AT BRUSHY CREEK

CHLOE YOUNGCOMMUNITY IMPACT

LAKELINE BLVD.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

PARMER LN.

CYPRESS CANYON

AVERY RANCH BLVD.

RANCH AT DEER CREEK

183A TOLL

620

TWIN CREEKS COUNTRY CLUB

183

VIST RIDGE BLVD.

BLUE RIDGE PKWY.

RESERVE AT TWIN CREEKS

BELLA VISTA

2769

Cedar Park road resurfacing Most of the work for Cedar Park’s 2023 major road resurfacing project was completed in June and July for sections of Vista Ridge Boulevard, Blue Ridge Parkway and East Park Street. Pavement for all three roads was completed July 12. Timeline: June-July Cost: $1.86 million Funding source: Cedar Park’s 2022 bond program

authorizing an agreement with the company not to exceed $620,472. Funding for the project is allocated in the city’s scal year 2023 budget. The exact start date for the treat- ment is still being determined as the city is working through the contract- ing process, said Fran Irwin, the city’s community aairs director. Irwin said the city will update its website once a schedule is determined. The

entire project is expected to last six to eight weeks. What to expect: Around a day before the application begins, yers will be distributed to residents about when to move their cars from the street, what the treatment is and what they should expect. Residents should remove their cars from the road during the project’s two-day span.

TWIN LAKES POOL

Toll agency anticipates revenues up nearly 40% for 202324 budget

183

BY GRACE DICKENS

RISING REVENUES Revenues for the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority are anticipated to rise about 40% for scal year 2024.

FY 2023-24 budget runs from July 1 to June 30.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Author- ity passed its scal year 2023-24 budget June 26, approving a decade-high revenue amount of $257.2 million, or a 39% year-over- year increase compared to FY 2022-23. The background: The Mobility Authority oversees several area toll roads, including 183A Toll, 183 North, 290 Toll, MoPac, Hwy. 71 and SH 45 N. Created in 2002, the Mobility Authority has seen continued year-over-year growth in its revenues bud- get for at least the last 10 years, according to Mobility Authority documents. The

Budget explained: The organization anticipates revenues to rise 39% in FY 2023-24 to $257.2 million, compared to $184.9 million in FY 2022-23. The largest percentage increases are from toll tag revenue and electronic toll collection, with 21.9% and 68.8% increases, respectively. The Mobility Authority is anticipating expenses to rise 19.7% in FY 2023-24 to $168.7 million, compared to $140.9 million in FY 2022- 23. Most of the increased expenditures come from maintaining roads, which increased around 30% year-over-year.

ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF JULY 3. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT CPFNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. at YMCA Camp Twin Lakes. Timeline: February-June Cost: $1.14 million Funding sources: Williamson County bonds, YMCA of Central Texas Twin Lakes Park pedestrian bridge completion WilliamsonCounty and the YMCA of Central Texas unveiled a new $1.14 million pedestrian bridge at Twin Lakes Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 22. The new 300-foot bridge allows pedestrians to safely access a previously inaccessible 4.2-acre pen- insula at Twin Lakes Park. The YMCA is working on beautifying the peninsula, which can now be utilized by pedestri- ans for walking, running and camping

Tag revenue: $ 126.19M

Video tolls: $ 38.13M

FY 202223 Total: $184.9M

Miscellaneous revenue: $ 4.68M Fee revenue: $ 15.88M

Tag revenue: $ 153.79M

Video tolls: $ 64.35M

FY 202324 Total: $257.19M

Miscellaneous revenue: $ 26.08M Fee revenue: $ 12.96M

SOURCE: CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL MOBILITY AUTHORITYCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

EDUCATION BRIEFS

News from local schools

NUMBER TO KNOW The percentage of Leander ISD’s annual expenditures that will go toward staff payroll in fiscal year 2023-24 88%

TEA monitoring at Round Rock ISD comes to an end ROUND ROCK ISD Texas Education Agency officials announced in June that it ended monitoring of the Round Rock ISD board of trustees after 18 months. Board President Amber Landrum said June 22 that the decision is the culmination of a “long journey” and echoed BY BROOKE SJOBERG

HIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN COMMUNITY

Azaiez’s sentiment regarding the work of the board. TEA monitors report on the activities of the board of trustees or the superintendent. According to RRISD documents, a complaint against the district from October 2019 said previous board President Chad Chadwell did not recuse himself from discussion about a grievance against himself, alleging a conflict of interest and board overreach. Neither the district nor Faltys issued a report explaining the end of the TEA monitoring process. However, Faltys’ monitoring report from April 2023 states the board had to demonstrate improvement in communication as well as implementation of its grievance process.

COLLEGE The college hosted a series of public forums June 27-29 with the three finalists for the system’s new chancellor to prepare for ACC Chancellor Richard Rhodes plans to retire in August. LEANDER ISD The board of trustees approved new attendance zones for secondary schools June 8. The students to be rezoned will begin at their new campuses in the 2024-25 school year. Middle school students going into eighth grade as well as juniors and seniors in high school will have the option to remain at their zoned campus if they complete a transfer request and provide their own transportation. ROUND ROCK ISD On June 20, the board of trustees approved a cost increase of elementary and secondary lunch from $2.80 and $3.05 to $3 and $3.25, respectively, for the 2023-24 school year. Prices for breakfast, adult meals and meals for students qualifying for the federal reduced-price lunch program will not increase. Austin Community College board of trustees will meet July 24 and Aug. 7 at 3 p.m. at 5930 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin. 512-223-7613. www.austincc.edu Leander ISD board of trustees will meet Aug. 10 and 24 at 6:15 p.m. at 300 S. West Drive, Leander. 512-570-0000. www.leanderisd.org Round Rock ISD board of trustees will meet Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at 300 Lake Creek Drive, Round MEETINGS WE COVER

The TEA installed a monitor for RRISD in September 2021, announcing in December of that year the assignment of former Carroll ISD Superintendent David Faltys to monitor the district. In a June 16 news release from the district, Superinten- dent Hafedh Azaiez said he is grateful for the presence of the monitor over those months. The decision to end monitoring is a “reflection of the collective work of the board of trustees” to improve its practices and service to the community, he said in the release.

District monitoring

The events that resulted in the Texas Education Agency assigning a monitor to Round Rock ISD occurred in 2019 and impacted board operations for over 18 months.

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

October 2019 : A complaint alleging conflict of interest and board overreach is submitted to the TEA.

Sept. 15, 2021 : TEA installs monitor at RRISD.

December 2021 : Former Carroll ISD Superintendent David Faltys is assigned to monitor RRISD.

March 6, 2023 : Round Rock ISD officials begin working on development of an exit plan with TEA officials.

June 16, 2023 : The TEA announces its

monitoring of the district has ceased.

SOURCE: ROUND ROCK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

LISD budget includes 4% staff pay raise, $6.5M projected shortfall

BY GRANT CRAWFORD

Recapture payments to the state will make up 12% of expenditures, or $57.87 million. The budget also includes a 4% raise for all district staff, costing the district $12.75 million, along with a projected fund balance shortfall of $6.5 million. Quote of note: “With very little new revenue from the state, we are excited to be able to bring this

budget to the board,” Chief Finan- cial Officer Pete Pape said. What else? The LISD board also approved the debt service and child nutrition budgets. The budget’s revenue is based on a lower property tax rate of $1.2644 compared to FY 2022-23’s tax rate of $1.2746 per $100 property value. The board will adopt the tax rate by September.

LEANDER ISD On June 15, the board approved the fiscal year 2023-24 budget, which includes $32 million more allocated for payroll than last year. The gist: LISD is expecting nearly $491 million in revenues in the FY 2023-24 general fund and $494.6 million in expenditures.

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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JULY 2023

CITY & COUNTY

News from Cedar Park, Austin & Williamson County

Design begins for $30M safety training facility in Cedar Park BY CHLOE YOUNG

County to implement new approach for disaster response

BUILDING PLANS The new training facility will be located next to the Cedar Park Fire Department’s existing training tower, according to the city.

Emergency operations center

Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The facility will also serve as an emergency operations center for emergency management to utilize during emergencies and disasters, according to city documents. “This facility is planned to address the need for larger, dedicated training classrooms for all three entities and a permanent Emergency Operation Center,” said Fran Irwin, the city’s community affairs director. Diving in deeper: The 31,000-square-foot building will be located at 1200-1204 Fire Lane next to the fire department’s existing training tower and include an emergency operations center, classrooms, training spaces and more, said Caleb Stockton, the city’s senior project manager.

BY CHLOE YOUNG

CEDAR PARK City Council approved an architecture firm to design the city’s new Public Safety Training Facility at a June 22 meeting. “I think we’re all very excited about this public training facility,” Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin said. “We’ve all been committed to mak- ing sure we have the best public safety that our city possibly can.” Voters approved $30 million for the facility through the city’s 2022 bond program. Hoefer Welker, LLC will now design the facility through a contract with the city not to exceed $2.34 million. The breakdown: The Public Safety Training Facility will serve as a training site for the Cedar Park Police Department, Fire Department and Office of

WILLIAMSON COUNTY The county will begin using an opera- tional flood intelligence system to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergency floods. The big picture: County officials signed a contract with real-time flood intelligence company FloodMapp on June 6 after the Williamson County Commissioners Court approved the move in May. The contract enables Williamson County’s Office of Emergency Management to begin accessing FloodMapp’s ForeCast, NowCast and PostCast products, which document the extent of a flood before, during and after it takes place to help emer- gency responders and the public to take proper action in an emergency and streamline community recovery.

Classrooms

Meeting and training spaces

Equipment bays

Offices

EXISTING TRAINING TOWER

183

KENT LN.

SOURCE: CITY OF CEDAR PARK/COMMUNITY IMPACT

The construction timeline and potential opening dates for the facility will be determined at a later date, Irwin said.

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Austin City Council Will meet July 20 and Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. at Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second St., Austin. 512-974-2250. www.austintexas.gov/department/ city-council Cedar Park City Council Will meet July 27 and Aug. 10, 24 at 450 Cypress Creek Road, Bldg. 4, MEETINGS WE COVER HIGHLIGHTS WILLIAMSON COUNTY The Commissioners Court approved a $100,000 grant and additional veterinary and volunteer services for the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter at a June 6 meeting. AUSTIN The search for interim City Manager Jesús Garza’s permanent successor is set to kick off this summer and could get Austin’s next city manager in place before late 2024.

City starts rain barrel program for residents

SHIFTING STRATEGIES

As the Texas Department of Public Safety resumes operations in Austin, officers will now focus on the following:

Monitoring roadways with high rates of injury and fatal crashes

Focusing on areas with the highest reports of violent crime with input from APD

Supporting Austin Police Department patrol sectors with fewer APD officers

BY CHLOE YOUNG

CEDAR PARK Residents can now save money on their utility bills by harvesting rainwater through a new city program. The gist: The Rain Barrel Credits Program, which became effective June 1, encourages single-family residential water customers in Cedar Park to conserve water by purchasing rain barrels that collect and store rooftop runoff for a variety of uses. The impact: Customers can receive 50 cents in credit toward their utility account for each gallon of capacity purchased, earning up to $100 in credit total. Most rain barrels hold about 55 gallons and can save homeowners around 1,300 gallons during peak summer months, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

DPS patrols in Austin resume in July with updated approach

The data: APD leadership touted the early success of the program, pointing to a reduction of violent crimes in May compared to the year prior. However, city lead- ership and residents expressed concern that Black and Hispanic people were being disproportion- ately arrested. What’s changed?: The DPS will move away from its previous model of solely focusing on areas that saw high 911 call volumes and traffic. Under the new strategy, the DPS will monitor roads with high rates of fatal crashes and focus on areas with high numbers of violent crime reports.

BY DARCY SPRAGUE

AUSTIN Troopers with the Texas Department of Public Safety returned to patrolling Austin’s streets on July 2. The background: DPS and the city of Austin announced a partnership March 27, which was paused May 13 as troopers were temporarily relocated to the Mexican border.

Cedar Park. 512-401-5000. www.cedarparktexas.gov Williamson County Commissioners Court

Will meet July 25 and Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 at 9:30 a.m. at the Williamson County Courthouse, 710 Main St., Georgetown. 512-943-1100. www.wilco.org

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CEDAR PARK - FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JULY 2023

GOVERNMENT Design of Leander sports facility begins; city eyes 2025 opening

COMPLEX DETAILS The Leander Municipal Athletic Complex at South San Gabriel River Park is anticipated to bring new park amenities to Leander. It will have more oerings than the city’s two complexes, Benbrook Ranch Park and Robin Bledsoe Park.

KEY

SOMERVILLE ST.

BY ZACHARIA WASHINGTON

Tummons said construction on the project will likely be completed in two phases, and the city of Leander has funding only for the initial phase. Costing roughly $10 million, the work done in the rst phase will include site development, utilities, infrastructure, some parking, roadways and a few multipurpose elds. Some of the other complex ameni- ties, such as the playscape area and the trails, are not included in the rst phase. Construction of these features is dependent on costs when the city seeks bids for the project in spring 2024, after the design and engineering phase is complete. Engineering rm Parkhill is conducting the master planning, design and construction phase services for the project. Construction on the rst phase of the project is anticipated to take about 12-15 months, which correlates with a late summer 2025 opening. This

Softball elds Playscapes Nature areas Walking and hiking trails

An upcoming 77-acre athletic complex will bring six elds for girls softball; multipurpose elds for soccer, lacrosse, cricket and rugby; nature areas; and picnic pavilions to the city. City Council approved one of two design options for the Leander Municipal Athletic Complex at South San Gabriel River Park in mid-May. The sports park will be located east of US 183 and north of the river in front of the Larkspur neighborhood. Parks and Recreation Director Mark Tummons said the feedback from the March 30 community workshop showed the majority of residents preferred the selected layout, which includes more parking space and additional multipurpose elds. The goal of the workshop was to receive a nal response from the community on any additional amenities or desires for the complex, he said.

Multipurpose elds for soccer, lacrosse, cricket and rugby Picnic pavilions

P Parking

183

SOURCE: CITY OF LEANDER COMMUNITY IMPACT

RENDERING COURTESY CITY OF LEANDER

project has been in the works for about six to seven years, and it has been a high priority for the community and city ocials, Tummons said. It was a part of Leander’s 2016 bond package. Tummons said the complex is “taking the best” of what the city’s

two smaller facilities, Benbrook Ranch Park and Robin Bledsoe Park, oer. “Leander residents can expect a quality, high-class facility,” he said. “As we continue to do additional phases, we’ll be able to move into more economic impact for the park itself.”

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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