Wimberley City Hall Briefs by Bob Flocke

City Hall Briefs
September 18, 2012
PO Box 1315, Wimberley, Texas 78676
Telephone 512-847-5421
rflocke@austin.rr.com

Downtown property owners encouraged to attend sewer meetings

The Wimberley Central Improvement Area, a group of downtown property owners working to bring a centralized sewer system to Wimberley, is encouraging all central Wimberley property owners to attend monthly meetings on the project.  Meetings will be held on the third Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at the  Wimberley Cafe.  Be informed and participate in discussions regarding plans for the sewer system and its impact.

Sales tax revenues up…again

Wimberley’s September sales tax check representing July sales totaled $41,753.23 and represents almost a three percent increase over the same
period last year. This is the second largest September sales tax check in Wimberley’s history, and it is the tenth straight month the city has noted
an increase in sales tax revenue.

Wimberley’s monthly moon walk moves downtown for the fall and winter months

The monthly moon walk sponsored by Wimberley’s Mayors Fitness Council will move to its winter schedule for the October walk.  During the fall and winter months, this monthly series of non-competitive fitness walks begins at 6:30 in the evening at Wimberley Cafe on the Square on the second Monday of each month.  The October walk is on Monday, October 8.  The course is mostly level and covers approximately two miles on sidewalks.  Walkers of all ages and experience levels are welcome as are pets on leashes.  In their third year now, the community moon walks are one of the Mayors Fitness Council’s programs for Wimberley, the fittest little town in Texas. For more information, contact the Mayors Fitness Council at 512-847-0025.

City Council agenda for September 20 meeting is online

The agenda for Thursday’s (Sept. 20) City Council meeting is online at http://www.vil.wimberley.tx.us/.  The meeting convenes at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Council resolution supports legislative creation of MMD to bring downtown sewer system

In a 4-1 vote–Place 3 Councilman Matt Meeks cast the dissenting vote– at its September 6 meeting, the city council approved a resolution supporting legislative creation of a municipal management district (MMD) to bring a central wastewater system to downtown Wimberley.

For 18 months, a group of property owners in central Wimberley has been meeting to explore the options available for funding the development of a sewer system to serve the downtown area.  This effort was launched with the intent of finding a viable funding mechanism where users of the system would be solely responsible for funding the development and operation of the system.

MMDs are special districts that are self-governed and require city support to be formed. Through their fundraising powers, MMDs can provide
infrastructure and other services within the district according to a district approved service plan. MMDs can be created through the Texas  Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) or by the state legislature. Forming the district legislatively can be faster than going through the
TCEQ. This path also allows for the customization of the district’s rules and regulations.

To initiate the legislative process for creating the proposed MMD, there is a need for the city council to demonstrate its support for the creation of such a district.  The resolution approved on September 6 is expresses that support.

Mayor Bob Flocke recused himself from discussion and voting on the matter.

City to ask TxDOT to rebid RR 12, Old Kyle Road project

The city council unanimously voted to ask the Texas Department of Transportation to rebid a project of improvements to the downtown area
around the intersection of Ranch Road 12 and  Old Kyle Road before the end of the year.

In August, TxDOT opened bids for the state-funded project.  The low bid was for $701,688.03–almost twice the state’s estimate for the project.

As a result of the high cost, TxDOT made the decision no not award a contract for the work.  Instead, the Wimberley project will be combined with another improved project scheduled for bidding next summer.  The state hopes that by combining the two projects the cost for the Wimberley project will be less.

Downtown Wimberley merchants expressed concern that delaying the long-planned project will push the disruptive construction work into the
summer tourist and fall Christmas shopping seasons next year, and they are frustrated with the delay.  The city will ask TxDOT to rebid the project before the end of the year, so construction can begin during the relatively slow shopping season in the first months of 2013.

Las Flores, La Buena Vista redux

In another unanimous vote, the city council approved a list of modifications to the safety improvement plan for the north Wimberley neighborhood around Las Flores and La Buena Vista Drives.  The move came following a Transportation Advisory Board evaluation of the effectiveness of the traffic safety improvements implemented last year.

Modifications to the plan include removing the two stop signs on Las Flores at its west intersection with Las Flores–near RM 2325; designating the current one-way section of La Buena Vista for two-way traffic after the installation of previously planned speed humps to both streets; creating a three-way stop at the east intersection of the two streets and removing left turn restrictions at that intersection.

Appointments

Bert Ray reappointed to Transportation Advisory Board, Place 2 Councilman Mac McCullough
Bob Bullock reappointed to Transportation Advisory Board, Place 5 Councilman John White

City Hall Briefs, written and edited by Bob Flocke to inform the citizens of Wimberley about city activities, is neither an official nor an authorized publication of the City of Wimberley. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the writer, and they do not necessarily reflect official policies or positions of the City of Wimberley, other members of the City Council or the city staff.

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