What is going on in Lakeway?
MISSING DOGGIE—Help Find Leia, the Mini Labradoodle
Leia is still missing. Her owners now think she may have been sold.
She disappeared June 26 from a dog sitter’s care in Stoney Creek condos on Lakeway Blvd. (just below Lakeway Drive, near Chandon and backing Live Oak Golf Course). Her humans and her litter mate, Luke, miss her terribly. There is a REWARD.
Leia is a 1.5 year old spayed female, weighing 16 lbs., with green eyes, a pink nose, and a red/brown coat. She is microchipped. She was wearing a light blue harness. Here is the owners’ website, with updated info. You can contact them with any sightings, as well as make a donation to help cover search efforts. https://findleia.com/
NEW National Suicide Hotline
The NEW number to call OR text is 988. The Suicide and Prevention Lifeline is staffed at all times with trained crisis workers to provide understanding, support and resources. More here: https://988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/
Brush Recycling Offered 1st Thursday of Every Month
City of Lakeway offers free yard waste drop off for Lakeway residents the first Thursday of every month, at the Public Works Department (3303 Serene Hills Drive) 7AM-3:30PM. Limit is one pickup truck load of yard waste or up to one 8’X5′ pile. Go here for details, including what is accepted: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1584
OAK TRIMMING Season July-January
This summer’s family movie night series concludes on Friday, August 5, with a showing of Shark Tale at 6PM in City Park (502 Hurst Creek). Bring blankets and folding chairs to get comfy on the lawn. Craig O’s Pizza will be available at concessions. No pets or alcohol allowed at this FREE event, with treats, music and yard games provided.
Big Band Bash
On Aug. 8, from 7-9PM Lakeway Activity Center hosts the Big Band Bash, a FREE event with the 17-piece Republic of Texas Big Band, featuring David Cummings and Lisa Clark on vocals. Bring your own beverages and snacks. For details, call 512-261-1010 or go here: www.lakeway-tx.gov/1880/big-band-bash
Cool Arts Show & Studio Tour
Lakeway Arts Committee hosts the 7th annual Cool Arts Show and Studio Tour, including fine visual arts created by 20 Lakeway-area artists, with live music by Christian Wiggs Trio. Paintings, jewelry, pottery and more will be available. The event also features face painting, art projects and more for the kids, plus food trucks.
SHOW is Saturday, August 27, 1-5PM at LAC (105 Cross Creek).
STUDIO TOURS are Saturday and Sunday, August 27-28. (Locations to be announced.) Go here for more info (including a preview of upcoming studio tours): https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1858/Cool-Arts-Show-Studio-Tour
National Night Out
National Night Out this year is Tuesday, October 4. This annual event encourages citizen engagement with their neighbors and with the police, to strengthen our community and heighten crime-prevention awareness. It supports local safety programs and organizes neighborhoods to take a stand against crime. BONUS—you get to know your neighbors and spend time with friends. To register a block party, go here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/FormCenter/Police-Department-12/National-Night-Out-SignUp-Form-87
Lakeway is HIRING
Open positions include Senior Administrative Assistant (Parks and Rec), Chief Building Official and Environmental Coordinator (both BDS), Emergency Management Coordinator, Finance Director, City Manager, Police Officer, and 911 Dispatcher. Go here for info and to apply:https://tx-lakeway.civicplushrms.com/CareerPortal/Jobs.aspx
Council had TWO Meetings on July 18:
–Budget Session July 18 at 2PM
RESULTS: Afternoon BUDGET meeting: Mayor Kilgore, plus Councilmembers Vance, Kumar, Brynteson and Szimanski were present.
Heritage Committee Chair Vickie Taylor presented a request for $20,550 total, including a Quarter Century Luncheon, 2 Heritage Trail Bus Tours (1 in spring and 1 in fall), a mini-movie, and more. Mayor Kilgore suggested a 3rd bus tour (perhaps in winter and aimed at new residents), given the extreme popularity of these annual tours.
Wildlife Advisory Committee Chair Ted Windecker presented a request for $21,500 total, including the annual deer survey, additional “slow down” signage in Old Lakeway consisting of deer crossing signs and deer banners, a wildlife art contest for kids, and more.
The Economic Development Chair was unable to attend, but the Assistant City manager presented a request for $25,000 in order to proceed with a professional Market Analysis, to explore leakage (spending by Lakeway residents outside the city) and verify Lakeway’s retail footprint (spending in Lakeway by non-residents).
The Arts Committee Chair was unable to attend and will present a budget request at the Aug. 1 meeting.
No vote was taken, but discussion on the dais was positive and encouraging. The mayor summed up the consensus as satisfaction with what was presented and asked staff to continue with budget preparation accordingly.
The City Manager continued the 2023 Budget process, with review of a list of needed expenditures. Several items (including a multi-department drone, new chairs and camera system for Council Chambers, tire changer for Public Works, and a forensic computer for the Police Station) were approved for purchase in the current year, since funds are available. COLA and merit raises for staff were approved, along with new staff positions. Staff was asked to finalize the Facilities Needs Assessment so that renovating the old Justice Center can be considered (to ease overcrowding at City Hall). Staff was also asked to provide more info on certain parks projects (Heritage Center, Live Oak Tennis/Pickleball Court, and the most pressing of the Activity Center and Swim Center upgrades), as possible uses for surplus funds.
View the Meeting Packet and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Go here to watch the Council meeting online: https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/177290
–Regular Session July 18 at 6:30PM (after a slight melee during Citizens Participation, covering regulating gifts to police and other city employees, day care home businesses, golf carts, accessory structures, and more)
Evening REGULAR meeting: All members were present, except Councilmember Trecker. RESULTS in ALL CAPS:
ITEM 8: Financial Report. REVENUE is up $814K. EXPENDITURES are $373K to the good.
ITEM 9: Citizens’ Participation. TWO PEOPLE SPOKE, in the nastiest manner possible, shaming our lovely city. One had to be physically removed from the meeting after striking a member of the audience.
ITEM 11: More changes to the HOME OCCUPATION ordinance, including a new separate section governing DAY CARE businesses operating in the home.
Council discussed allowing 1 non-resident day care worker on an occasional basis BUT limiting operations to 3 unrelated kids, as state law does for listed facilities. They went into Executive Session when the resident suing the city over this matter demanded at least 7 unrelated kids be allowed, or her suit will continue. Consensus was reached to keep 3 kids max, BUT day care providers may request an SUP (to be reviewed by ZAPCO and Council) allowing more kids and workers, on a case-by-case basis. DEFERRED to Council’s Aug. 1 meeting for staff to draft suggested changes.
ITEM 12: Proposed revisions to the city’s Code of Ethics.
Council discussed extensive revisions, most importantly those attempting to legitimize significant cash and in kind gifts that have for many years been passed along by Lakeway Police Foundation to the city’s police officers, without disclosure to city officials and in violation of our ethics rules prohibiting any employee from accepting gifts. (Gits received by police range from meals on a daily basis to cash gifts exceeding $10,000—sometimes to meet emergency needs, but not always.) Complicating matters is the fact the foundation’s donors are not officially named, leaving the city and police officers open to allegations of conflict of interest and preferential treatment. The most controversial section of the proposed changes allows such gifts, IF from a charitable organization and approved by a committee.
NOTE: Councilmember Szimanski READ a LONG SPEECH during what was supposed to be Council discussion, demanding little or no restrictions on gifts to police officers. This is something that has never happened in the many years I have observed Council. Along with her uncivil manner toward her peers on the dais, it stopped meaningful discussion and wasted considerable time. Worse, it raised the question: WHOSE WORDS WAS SHE SPOUTING?
DEFERRED to Council’s Aug. 1 meeting, with staff instructed to revise language so the gift approval committee is City Manager, Asst. City Manager and the gift recipient’s Department Head; committee must act within 72 hours; and the gift rules also apply to family members of employees.
ITEM 13: Proposed revisions to GOLF CART ordinances (first reading).
Council discussed suggested changes, still undecided on whether to require city registration or rely on the state’s licensing. Certain city streets are still deemed unsafe for golf carts, but review by the police department is ongoing. Some members pressed for a simple rubber stamp of state rules, but the consensus was Lakeway should tailor the ordinance to specific needs, as do most local cities.
NO ACTION NEEDED other than staff being asked to investigate the state licensing process and tweak the ordinance per comments, prior to second hearing of the matter at the next meeting.
ITEM 14: More changes to ordinances covering ACCESSORY STRUCTURES on residential lots, including airplane hangers and courtyard structures in front of primary homes.
Council agreed to exclude hangers from the size/footprint/lease rules for accessory structures. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEM 15: Special Use Permit (50 years) for expansion of the CubeSmart storage facility at 15616 Stewart Road.
Owner was absent, so Council’s questions went unanswered. DEFERRED until Council’s Aug. 15 meeting.
ITEM 16: Special Use Permit (30 years) for a liquor store at 2418 620 South. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEM 17: Approval of Final Plat for The Enclave at Lohmans, being 15 acres known as Phase 2 and part of Phase 1 (including town homes, Main Street, Lohmans Spur, roundabout) of the 59-acre Square at Lohmans approved PUD. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEMS 18 and 19: Annexing and zoning as parkland 29 acres in Rough Hollow. [This was approved by Council in May, but faulty notification of neighboring property owners back then required an encore review.] UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEMS 20 and 21: Changing the Future Use Map and zoning of 8.9 acres in Rough Hollow from commercial to residential/R-5 condo, per the revised PUD. [This was approved by Council in May, but faulty notification of neighboring property owners back then requires an encore review.] UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEMS 22 and 23: Preliminary Plan revision and Final Plat approval for 46 acres at Serene Hills Pass and Madrone Canyon Drive. (These actions are required to reflect technical changes needed re: turnaround locations, drainage, water quality and utility easements, after Preliminary Plan approval in 2019 and Final Plat approval in 2020.) UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED
ITEMS 26 and 27: Executive Sessions on litigation (Christopher W. Levy v. City of Lakeway) and filling the City Manager position.
NO ACTION as to the lawsuit. COMMITTEE CREATED, with Mastrangelo as Chair plus Kumar and Brynteson, to hire a new City Manager.
View the Meeting Packet and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Go here to watch the Council meeting online: https://lakewaytx.new.swagit.com/videos/177302
Council meets Monday, Aug. 1, 6:30PM at City Hall, debating residential daycare businesses, Code of Ethics/gifts to police officers, increasing the homestead over 65 property tax exemption, 2023 budget, and more.
ITEM 6: Arts Committee 2023 Budget Request ($55,000).
ITEM 7: Work Session—2023 Budget.
ITEM 8: Revising the Home Occupation ordinance to add a special section covering daycare operations.
ITEM 9: Revising the Code of Ethics, including regulating gifts to city employees (police officers and others).
ITEM 10: Revising the ordinance to increase the Over Age 65 Property Tax Homestead Exemption from the current $15,000 to $30,000.
ITEM 11: Discussion of changing the time for Council meetings.
View the Meeting Packet and/or Presentation (scrolling down to City Council documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Go here to watch the Council meeting online (live or later): https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
ZAPCO meets Wednesday, Aug. 3, 9AM, at City Hall.
The agenda includes review of the new airpark ordinance as proposed by committee, yet another proposal/delaying tactic by Stratus for its Main Street tract (and building the &%$#@ road, as promised pre-HEB), and requested revision of the Tuscan Village 2 PUD by Legend.
To send comments to ZAPCO beforehand (by noon on Monday, Aug. 1), go here and create a Public Comment Form: https://lakeway-tx.civicweb.net/Portal/CitizenEngagement.aspx
View the Meeting Packet and/or Presentation (scrolling down to ZAPCO documents) here: https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/archive.aspx
Go here to watch the ZAPCO meeting online (live or later): https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1062/Videos—Meetings-Events
Daring Mighty Things
The International Space Station’s useful life is scheduled to end along with the current decade. But, the commercial stations anticipated to take its place in low Earth orbit may not be ready in time. Currently, NASA is trying to generate interest, but private companies are reluctant to commit to the lofty project without guarantees of activity and profits. To date, NASA lacks funding to cover the hefty costs of construction. Space station successors may not be ready in time to replace aging lab: report 7/22/22 https://www.space.com/nasa-replace-iss-space-station-gap-safety-panel
For that matter, Russia announced, it will pull out of ISS participation “after 2024,”to build its own space station after over 2 decades of global partnership. Currently, the US and Russia always have at least 1 astronaut aboard ISS who routinely catch rides back and forth on the other country’s spaceships. Russia Says It Will Quit the International Space Station After 2024 7/26/22 https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jul/26/russia-opt-out-international-space-station-2024-build-own-outpost
With liberty and justice for all … except women.
The Guardian reviews abortion laws around the country, including Kansas, where abortion is currently legal but the Aug. 2 election ballot includes a referendum. The dystopian American reality one month after the Roe v Wade reversal 7/25/22 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/25/us-abortion-bans-states-after-roe-v-wade
Medication abortions now account for over half of all abortions in the country. With the fall of Roe and abortions suddenly illegal in half the states, this will rise. Consequently, blocking access to these pills is the new priority for red states. The NY Times has an excellent overview of access to the pills used in medication abortion, various ways to get them, how Republican states are trying to block them, and the legal hurdles involved. The New Abortion Battleground 7/25/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/25/briefing/abortion-pills-mail-roe-v-wade.html
In Texas, blue cities are doing what they can. Democratic cities in Texas push to blunt impact of state’s abortion ban 7/29/22 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/29/democratic-cities-texas-abortion-ban-roe-v-wade
Texas November Election
The November 2022 election is nearly here. Voter registration ends Oct. 11. Early voting is Oct. 24-Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 8.
Texas will elect governor, lt. governor, attorney general, and many more key officials. The governor’s race in particular will be hot and heavy, and the result is key not just for our state but for the country. Abortion rights, gun safety, election integrity, the power grid—those are just SOME of the issues to consider when evaluating candidates. For a long time now, Texas has elected the worst among us. This time, let’s elect the BEST.
So, that blue squarish area in the above image is Travis County Precinct 375, covering a large chunk of Lakeway. It has just over 3,500 registered voters. (The lake runs along the top, and Lakeway Blvd. borders the bottom, with Challenger running along the right side and Rough Hollow on the left side.) Your 2022 voter registration card shows your precinct number. Or, go here and fill in your details for Voter Lookup: https://www.votetravis.com/vexpress/display.do
I’m the new Democratic Precinct Chair for 375. (Well, I will be after the August swearing in.) Several Lake Travis area precincts are working together as a Super Precinct. We are supporting Beto O’Rourke, Mike Collier, Rochelle Garza, and Democratic candidates all the way down the ballot. Go here and put your address in to see your sample ballot: https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Sample_Ballot
Recent redistricting changed things. For instance, Precinct 375 is no longer in State Representative Vikki Goodwin’s district. Instead, in our part of Lakeway, the choices are Dem. Pam Baggett vs. Rep. Ellen Troxclair.
Now, we are starting to gear up for the November election. Plans include encouraging registration, urging high voter turnout via block-walking and phone banking/texting, and distributing candidate yard signs. In particular, we need to organize block-walking. People will be walking their home streets and immediate neighborhoods, using our custom maps of likely Democratic voters and handing out Travis County Democratic Party literature. If you live in Precinct 375 and are interested in getting involved, I would love to hear from you. Email me at macwestie99@gmail.com
Back to me….
Busy, busy, busy! After working from home for several years and then toying with early retirement, I started a part-time job a couple weeks ago—out in the real world with actual people, I get dressed and leave the house, and everything. Big change, and the cats are a bit peeved…. Plus, I took on the precinct chair thing (see the Texas November Election section above). I also applied to work the polls during the November election. HELP IS NEEDED! Anyone interested in working Early Voting and/or Election Day, go here to get started: https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/departments/elections/election-workers/poll-worker-form/
City of Lakeway is in overdrive now with Council doubling up with Budget meetings along with regular sessions handling some really important and controversial issues. This week’s ZAPCO meeting should be VERY interesting, as well.
By August, most of our fawns will be lanky youngsters, still spotty but getting tall and more independent. They still don’t understand traffic hazards, so please slow down and drive carefully. Lakeway Blvd., Lakeway Drive, Lohmans Crossing and Hurst Creek Road are all high danger areas, but our herd and its most vulnerable members roam all over Old Lakeway. SLOW DOWN! If you see a doe, assume there is a fawn with her; if you see one fawn, watch for another.
In August, the Wildlife Committee’s deer banners change from fawn banners to doe banners. We have 2 new images this year and a new slogan, so look for them around town—and LOOK OUT for all our deer.
Here are recent photos I took of our herd.
The Coronavirus
Worldwide, 12.3 billion shots have been given, with 62.5% of the planet’s population fully vaccinated.
Diminishing economic growth, soaring prices, kinked supply chains, sudden shortages, damaging market fluctuations, inexplicable ups and downs in previously reliable economic statistics.… It’s the pandemic, stupid. Not only did Covid-19 (and the world’s botched handling of it) kill untold millions of us, the pandemic fundamentally changed the world economy, and not for the better. Production, transportation, working conditions, travel, education, migration, political systems, consumer confidence—all were upended since early 2020—often multiple times as surges hit. From China and the US down to the smallest countries, all are experiencing some version of inflation, shortages, political turmoil and economic mayhem, and no one so far has a working solution. Just like its health consequences, the economic consequences of the pandemic are unprecedented. And continuing, with no end in sight. Read more here: The World Economy Is Imperiled by a Force Hiding in Plain Sight 7/16/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/16/business/global-recession-risk.html
In Europe, the word is: “everyone has Covid.” This is thanks to an explosion of BA.5 cases across the continent. But, in the absence—so far—of a large number of severe cases, overwhelmed ICUs or deaths, no restrictions are being implemented. Europeans seem resigned to living with Covid.
Australia is seeing a surge in cases AND hospitalizations. Hospitals now have more Covid patients than ever before during the pandemic; there are delays of several days for a bed, and care is postponed for many patients. So far, officials are not imposing restrictions, but they are advising mask wearing in pubic and working from home whenever possible.
China is fighting Covid outbreaks in over a dozen cities, with an increasingly alarming economic downturn nationwide. New lockdowns have quarantined millions. On July 27, one million people in a suburb of Wuhan (in central China and where Covid-19 arose) were placed under lockdown when 4 asymptomatic cases were identified.
Africa, which has long lagged in vaccinations due to lack of vaccines and the support infrastructure to administer them, in June showed a 74% increase in shots compared to May. This was credited to mass vaccination campaigns in 16 countries. Still, only 6 African countries have vaccinated over 10% of the population.
In the US, in the last 2 weeks, the new case rate was down 5%, hospitalizations rose 10%, and deaths increased 3%. We are averaging 124,000new cases per day. 44,000 Americans are currently hospitalized with Covid, and an average of 436 people die each day. The national testing positivity rate is 18%.
Half of all Covid-19 infections occurred in the first half of 2022, which is astounding considering the relatively casual attitude we have adopted to the pandemic this year. The good news is that only one-tenth of the total deaths have occurred so far in 2022. Experts project that the endemic version of Covid may infect half the population and kill 100,000 Americans annually.
“BA.5 is everywhere.” That’s what the experts say. The BA.5 Omicron subvariant is now responsible for well over 80% infections in the US.
The White House announced on July 21 that President Biden had Covid-19 and was in isolation. Vaccinated and boosted, his symptoms were mild and he took Paxlovid, an antiviral drug used to minimize the severity of Covid-19. As of July 27, the President was testing negative and out of isolation. However, he had a relapse and tested positive on July 30, despite being symptom-free, so he headed back into isolation. This rebound effect is fairly common with Paxlovid, so he will take another course of treatment and likely be fully recovered soon.
As for vaccinations in the US, 67% of the entire population is fully vaccinated (no change in the last 8 weeks). Nearly 108 million booster shots have been given. Average shots administered per day climbed to 314,000.
Updated vaccines, designed to offer better protection against BA.5, are expected from Pfizer and Moderna by September. All Americans can expect a booster in the fall, calculated to blunt the usual winter surge of Covid infections.
In Texas, the positivity test rate is currently 30% (same as 2 weeks ago). In the last 2 weeks, new cases decreased 10%, hospitalizations rose 12%, and deaths jumped 73%. We are averaging 11,500 new daily cases, and an average of 27 Texans die each day. As of now, there are 4,000 Texans hospitalized for Covid-19.
A recent study found that Austin’s famous bats (which are Mexican free-tailed bats), can get COVID-19. However, they do NOT seem to become ill or spread the disease to humans. Austin’s bats can get COVID-19, study finds, but do they spread it? 7/19/22 https://www.statesman.com/story/news/coronavirus/2022/07/19/austin-bats-can-get-covid-do-bats-spread-covid-what-to-do-if-contact-with-bat/65377374007/
Only 63% of all Texas residents are fully vaccinated.
Recent Covid Articles I Recommend
Biden Administration Plans to Offer Updated Booster Shots in September 7/28/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/28/us/politics/covid-booster-shots.html
Covid study finds millions have long-term smell or taste problems 7/27/22 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/27/covid-study-finds-millions-have-long-term-smell-or-taste-problems
How to Live With Covid When You Are Tired of Living With Covid 7/26/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/25/well/live/covid-ba5-precautions.html
I’m a Virologist, and I’m Setting the Record Straight on Variants and Reinfections 7/22/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/22/opinion/covid-omicron-variants-reinfection.html
Endemic Covid-19 Looks Pretty Brutal 7/20/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/20/opinion/covid-19-deaths-vaccines-endemic.html
Covid cases are skyrocketing again. States have no new plans. 7/20/22 https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/20/states-meet-new-covid-wave-00046640
The World Economy Is Imperiled by a Force Hiding in Plain Sight 7/16/22 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/16/business/global-recession-risk.html