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CP Council approves regional water project

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Cedar Park's concern and worries about water could be coming to a close in the next couple years now that the city has officially signed on to be a part of the Brushy Creek Regional Water Project.

At Thursday's regular scheduled council meeting, the council voted 5-0, with two members absent, to approve the master contract, bylaws and finance agreement for the project. The project will require the city of Cedar Park to pay $25 million for their share of the project.

The Round Rock and Leander city councils also had to pass the same items at their council meetings on Aug. 28 for the project to be approved and move forward. Round Rock will pay $66 million and Leander will pay $91 million for their participation.*

The city's outside attorney for the project, Leonard Smith, told the council he was “recommending approve these contracts for the beginning of the project.” Smith also reiterated that in order for any changes to be made to the project, all three cities would have vote to approve them.

Councilmember Mitch Fuller, who is also the representative from the council on the BCRUA board, said he was very happy that council approved the project because it was a long time in coming. “I think it's a historical night and it's been a long road,” he said.

Fuller said a project of this caliber took great cooperation and is a necessary public works project.

City attorney Charles Rowland said the council had just approved a project that will “protect the health and welfare of hundreds of thousands of people.”

The Leander City Council held a special-called meeting on Thursday night to discuss the same water project issues. The council unanimously passed the item and no people showed up to speak against it.

The completion date for the project, which will have a Consolidated Shaft Tunnel intake, is set for April 1, 2011.

Budget

The council heard a first reading and public hearing on the 2008-09 budget, which will have a second reading tonight and will come before the council for approval at their Sept. 11 meeting.

Cedar Park City Manager Brenda Eivens gave a powerpoint presentation on the budget, which can be found on the city's website.

The biggest change in the budget for this coming year is the reduction of the tax rate, which will drop from $0.50807 to $0.489001, said Eivens. This $0.019 drop places Cedar Park's tax rate below that of Hutto, San Marcos, Temple, Leander and Pflugerville.

The new tax rate is the lowest the city has seen in recent years. “It's a lower rate by a penny than in 2001,” Eivens said.

However, because property values in Cedar Park rose over the last year, households will see an increase in taxes. Eivens said the average increase will be about $4 per month, but the amount could be lower depending on the household's property value rise. The amount taxed per household, on average, will jump from $881 to $929.

Other Business

Cedar Park Firefighter Zac Butoryak was recognized at the meeting for 10 years of service with the department. Butoryak joined the Cedar Park Fire Department on June 29, 1998. He was promoted to driver in 2000 and officer in 2006, said fire chief Chris Connealy. Butoryak, who is a member of the rescue team, is currently the lieutenant at fire station one.

The Cedar Park Fire Department Combat Challenge Team, a newly-formed team, presented a flag to the city, which they won in competition. The five-man team competed in their first event in Oklahoma and placed eighth, the team posting the ninth-fastest time. They qualified for the World Finals which will be in Las Vegas, Nev., in November.

First readings were heard for the setting of prima facie speed limits on Ronald Reagan Boulevard and RM 1431. The speed limit for Ronald Reagan Boulevard will be set at 60 mph within the city limits, as currently posted. After speed studies were done by TxDOT, they requested the speed limit for RM 1431 in the city limits be reduced.

Briefly...

Parks and Recreation Assistant Manager James Hemenes gave an update on the recreation center, which already has the steel frame up. The center is on schedule to open in July 2009. ... Michael McCloskey, who was on the Planning and Zoning Commission, was appointed to the Tourism Advisory Board as the place 4 member. ... Mark Lewis, Building Inspections Director, gave an update on permit activity. There are currently 611 approved residential permits and 172 business permits. ... Councilmembers Matt Powell and Cobby Caputo were absent from the meeting.

E-mail jenn@hillcountrynews.com

*This corrects the story in the Thursday edition of the Hill Country New which stated that each city will pay $25 million for their participation.

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