Wimberley council adopts 2-year and 5-year priorities, approves street improvements

Note: Lots of news from last Thursday's July 7 Wimberley City Council meeting. We have edited the Briefs for length and style.

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. The Briefs is distributed by email to anyone who wishes to receive it. Anyone who wishes to be added to the distribution list should send their email address to Mayor Flocke at rflocke@austin.rr.com, 512.847.5421, PO Box 1315, Wimberley, TX 78676.

July’s community Moon Walk is Monday, July 18

The monthly full moon walk for July will take place at the Wimberley-Hays County Hike & Bike Trail, Monday, July, 18, at 8:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome, as are pets on leashes are welcome at the walk. The July full moon is the Full Buck Moon. Participants in the two-mile walk meet at the north end of the parking lot of the former First Baptist Church near the entrance to Blue Hole. July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. It also was often called the Full Thunder Moon because thunderstorms are most frequent during this time. Another name for this month’s moon was the Full Hay Moon.

Wimberley's monthly community full moon walk, an initiative of the Mayor’s Fitness Council, started in 2009 as a way to get people into the habit of making small changes in their lives by adding a little light exercise. It has turned into a social event attracting people and their pets to meet other Wimberleyites, have some fun and get a little exercise. This month's walk will be the first time that the Fitness Council has used the new Hike & Bike Trail.

Wimberley area projects on county’s CAMPO list

Two Wimberley area projects are included on a list of 15 road safety and mobility projects submitted to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization by the Hays County Commissioners Court in hopes of receiving a share of more than $74 million in federal funds.

The Wimberley area projects included are the purchase of right-of-way for a future parkway on RR 12 from RR 32 to Wonder World Drive/Old RR 12 and constructing a hike-and-bike trail on the east side of RR 12 from Winters Mill Parkway to Joe Wimberley Boulevard. If adopted, the trail project will join the new Blue Hole Regional Park/Winters Mill Parkway hike-and-bike trail with downtown Wimberley, completing a 6.2-mile circuit.

CAMPO will be passing on the money from the Federal Highway Administration to counties in Central Texas and is expected to decide on the projects by late summer, with funding available at the beginning of fiscal year 2012.

The two Wimberley area projects are among 10 projects involving state highways that will be applied for in conjunction with the Texas Department of Transportation and five that will improve county roads.

Blue Hole a hit on July 4 weekend

The July 4 weekend saw a record number of visitors to Blue Hole Regional Park with almost 1,900 visitors passing thru the gates over the three-day weekend. The busiest day was Saturday when close to 669 visitors entered the Park. There were two capacity-related closing during the period. The capacity of the swimming area at Blue Hole is 150 persons. When that number is reached, no additional entry is allowed until the number goes below the capacity. Since June 11, 6,682 people have entered the Park. Last year, some 15,000 guests passed thru the gate. The Park has generated more than $38,000 in revenue so far this year.

Regular testing shows that the water quality in Cypress Creek at Blue Hole remains well within acceptable levels for recreational contact.

May sales tax revenue up

The Office of the Comptroller’s July sales tax check to Wimberley, representing May sales, totaled $40,367.51. That is up seven percent over the $37,721.27 for the same period last year. This is the third straight month we have seen an increase in sales tax revenue. The year-to-date receipts for 2011 are $322,967.29, or three percent over the year-to-date figure for July 2010.

Surveyor stakes along RM 2325 lead to rumors

The surveyor stakes that have sprung up recently along RM 2325 within the Wimberley city limits have caused rumors—all false—to circulate regarding their purpose. The prevalent rumor is that the state plans to widen the busy highway to three—and maybe four—lanes. The facts are far less sinister.

At the request of the city, Texas Department of Transportation surveyors marked the right-of-way on the eastbound side of RM 2325 from Carney Lane to the highways junction with Ranch Road 12. Wimberley officials asked for the marking for a visual reference of the right-of-way’s location to show possible locations for a sidewalk along the roadway.

City, Hays County, Wimberley Independent School District and Katherine Anne Porter School officials have long recognized the need for a sidewalk in the area. Parts of RM 2325 see heavy pedestrian traffic including students and Market Day visitors. The absence of a sidewalk forces pedestrians to walk on or near the roadway, creating a safety hazard.

At a recent meeting of interested parties, the city established a stakeholders committee to develop a coalition of property owners, school representatives and business owners on the RM 2325 corridor. This coalition will work with city and county officials and TxDOT to move the project forward. Presently, TxDOT has no plans for a sidewalk on RM 2325.

Local firm submits low bid on street improvement work

A local firm submitted the lowest bid for planned street improvements to Cliffview Dr, Smith Creek Rd., Twilight Trail, Malone Dr., and Rockwood Dr. CAS Construction Co. of Wimberley submitted a bid of $202,157.75 for the five streets on which bids were sought. The next lowest bid was submitted by Smith Contracting Co. of Austin for $285,693.00. The city budgeted $201,894 for the proposed street improvement in fiscal year 2011 in its current operating budget. Rockwood Dr. was removed from the FY11 program to ensure that funds are available in the budget for unexpected contingencies. It will be moved to the street improvements list for FY12.

The bid for improvements to the four remaining streets is for $178,838.03, leaving adequate contingency funding for the work to be done. Construction is expected to be completed by September 30. The council voted unanimously to authorize the city administrator to initiate a contract with CAS Construction for the work.

Work to proceed on Wimberley truck route

In a unanimous vote at its Thursday meeting, the city council authorized the city staff to proceed with the Texas Department of Transportation on the rerouting of heavy truck traffic away from Wimberley’s downtown area. The proposed plan will divert through truck traffic around the downtown area. Ranch Road 12 traffic will be diverted around town using RM 3237 and Winters Mill Parkway. Through traffic using RR 12 and RM 2325 will use the same route along with Jacobs Well Road.

A similar plan was approved last year. Because TxDOT policy provides that all government entities affected by rerouting traffic must agree to such a traffic diversion must agree, that plan was never implemented. While Hays County and Wimberley supported the truck route, the city of Woodcreek objected out of concern that trucks using Winters Mill Parkway might use Woodcreek Dr. as a cut-through to RM 2325. Woodcreek recently enacted an ordinance prohibiting through truck traffic, and Woodcreek officials informed Wimberley that they no longer object to the proposed truck route.

PEC to drop street banner program

The Pedernales Electrical Coop has informed Wimberley officials that the utility will discontinue its long-standing program of hanging street banners promoting non-profit organizations’ events.

The familiar street banners announcing everything from art festivals to rodeos, have been placed free of charge by PEC employees in cities served by the cooperative once the placement of the signs was approved by the Texas Department of Transportation. Wimberley passed a 2005 ordinance limiting street banners to five locations within the city.

The future of the PEC program came into question following a recent incident involving one of the banners which fell at the intersection of RR 12 and RM 2325. PEC has determined that the weight of the banners did not cause the utility pole supporting them to snap, but it was a contributing factor. In addition, the cooperative is faced with rising personnel costs for its crews diverted to banner-hanging duties.

The city council authorized the city staff to develop an alternate means of advertising non-profit organizations’ events.

Council adopts priority list

The city council approved a list of priorities to guide the city over the next five years. The priorities were developed during the council’s off-site workshop on June 25 and approved at Thursday’s regular council meeting. The items listed below are in no particular order as the council considers them all priorities.

Two Year Priorities
– Sewer system on the Wimberley Square
– Improve citizen communication
– Enhance public confidence
– Review and re-codify the Code of Ordinances
– Implement law enforcement program
– Complete development of Blue Hole Regional Park
– Develop a master plan for the Wimberley Square area
– Initiate work on a community development master plan
– Enhance business development
– Implement a historic preservation and awareness program
– Maintain street repair and improvement program
– Initiate underground utility program on Wimberley Square
– Develop and secure alternate water supplies for Wimberley

Five Year Priorities
– Increase senior housing options
– Complete Hays County/Wimberley Regional Hike and Bike Trail
– Develop funding for capital improvements (streets, sidewalks, drainage, parks)
– Complete underground utility program on Wimberley Square
– Maintain citizen involvement
– Develop and secure alternate water supplies for Wimberley

Alcohol sales approved for Taste Buds – In a three-to-one vote, the city council approved a conditional use permit allowing the sale of alcohol for on premise consumption at Taste Buds, a gourmet food and wine shop at 13904 RR 12. Taste Buds sells pre-packaged specialty foods, and the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption was previously approved by the council. The approval of the new CUP will allow customers to consume alcoholic beverages at the shop. Place 4 Councilman Steve Thurber cast the dissenting vote.

City to help cemetery association locate additional space – After hearing a presentation on the lack of room for additional burials at the Wimberley Cemetery, the city council has agreed to assist the Wimberley Cemetery Association in finding property suitable for an additional community cemetery. The council appointed Place 3 Councilman Matt Meeks to work with Precinct 3 Commissioner Will Conley and the cemetery association in locating an appropriate site for a new cemetery.

Appointments – Gene Woodruff reappointed to Transportation Advisory board by Place 1 Councilman Tom Talcott. Vance Smith appointed to Parks and Recreation Advisory Board by Place 3 Councilman Matt Meeks. Charles Roccaforte appointed to Ethics Commission by Place 5 Councilman John White.