In a split vote of 3-2, the council approved a plan that will reopen one intersection of Las Flores and La Buena Vista Drives, an intersection that the council voted to close one year ago
Note: 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. City Hall Briefs is distributed by e-mail 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 (below). The RoundUp has edited the Briefs for length and style.Send your comments and questions to roundup.editor@gmail.com, to Mr. Flocke at rflocke@austin.rr.com, 512.847.5421, or click on the "comments" at the bottom of the report
Wimberley Burning Love benefit to aid Bastrop fire victims directly
Local business owners Madonna Kimball and Tom Keyser told the Wimberley City Council and those in attendance at Thursday evening’s Sept. 15 meeting about their plans for a community-wide event on the weekend of October 1 and 2 to raise funds for victims of recent wildfires in Bastrop County.
The planners say that the Burning Love event was conceived to directly aid fire victims strictly with monetary funds, not supplies and items of clothing. A portion of the funds raised during the benefit will be used to establish a local area victims’ resource fund in the event that our area experiences fire, flood or other natural disasters.
Since the first weekend in October is a Market Day weekend, many visitors will be in town. Several large sale events are being planned by businesses, and fundraising has already begun by several businesses, individuals and organizations.
For more information and for ideas on how to participate, please contact Tom Keyser at inoz@verizon.net for general information and contact Elizabeth Danforth at lizy6937@hotmail.com to volunteer.
Council adopts revised traffic plan for La Buena Vista, Las Flores neighborhood
The city council at its Thursday meeting adopted a revised traffic plan for a neighborhood in the northern section of Wimberley where thousands of cars use the streets as a shortcut between RM 12 and RM 2325.
In a split vote of 3-2, the council approved a plan that will reopen one intersection of Las Flores and La Buena Vista Drives, an intersection that the council voted to close one year ago. The traffic realignment will make La Buena Vista a one-way street westbound between its two intersections with Las Flores. The reopened intersection will be reconfigured into a “T” intersection, and westbound traffic on La Buena Vista will not be permitted to turn left onto Las Flores. Traffic on Las Flores will be two-way. Speed humps will be added to both streets, and signs limiting the size of through-trucks will be posted at entrances to the neighborhood.
Residents have complained about the speed and volume of traffic through the neighborhood for years. In 2006, three-way stop signs were added to the intersection of Las Flores and la Buena Vista. Last year, the intersection was blocked. Councilmen Mac McCullough and Steve Thurber voted against the plan.
Newly adopted budget includes a city marshal
Wimberley will soon have a City Marshal again. Funding for the local law enforcement officer is part of the $2.7 million City of Wimberley Consolidated Budget for Fiscal Year 2012 that was approved in a unanimous vote of the Wimberley City Council.
Mayor Bob Flocke said "The City Marshal will work in concert with the Hays County Sheriffs Department and Precinct 3 Constable to provide comprehensive law enforcement services for our community.”
The position of City Marshal was eliminated from the City’s budget two years ago to free-up additional funding needed for street improvements.
The $2.7 million Consolidated Budget is 19 percent less than the City’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget. General Fund expenditures total $976,200, operating expenditures for the Blue Hole Regional Park total $422,662 and $1,355,656 is budgeted to complete development of the park.
On the revenue side, funds for development of the park will come from donations and grants while user fees will fund park operations. Sales tax revenues along with development fees and franchise fees will fund the City’s General Fund expenditures.
“The FY 2012 budget is balanced and focuses on the City’s core services, addresses City Council budget priorities, and meets community needs while maintaining financial strength,” according to Mayor Flocke. “The budget demonstrates how smarter, more efficient government can provide additional investment in key City services.”
The approved budget includes funding to acquire portable digital data devices for City Council members to use when accessing their meeting agenda packets. This purchase will result in a significant savings in copier and paper costs. Additional savings were found in other areas such as training, postage, drinking water and mowing/tree trimming.
In Fiscal Year 2012, the City’s budget directs just over $82,000 to an on-going pavement preservation program and approximately $50,000 to street improvements and $25,000 for new sidewalks. Funding is also allocated for an emergency notification system and a re-codification of the City Code.
To find out more about the FY 2012 City of Wimberley Consolidated Budget, log on to www.cityofwimberley.com.
Wimberley municipal elections will remain in May
Despite the potential of spending an additional $2,500 to $10,000 each year for elections, the city council reaffirmed its September 1 decision to keep city elections on the second Saturday of May each year.
The reason the item was brought up again at the September 15 meeting was that at its September 6 meeting, the Woodcreek city council unanimously voted to move that city's elections to November, leaving Wimberley without a major partner for leasing voting machines. Mayor Bob Flocke had told the Wimberley city council at its September 1 meeting that the Woodcreek council had not acted yet, and that they were waiting to see what Wimberley did. At that time, Flocke said that he thought that Woodcreek would probably follow Wimberley. They didn't.
The WISD trustees and the Hays Trinity GCD board have not yet decided on a course of action. If neither entity opts to keep elections in May and partner with Wimberley for leased voting machines, Wimberley will pay the full estimated amount of $13,500 for each election.
The city council voted 4-1 to keep elections in May with Place 1 Councilman Tom Talcott voting against.
Citizens Code Review Task Force approved
The city council unanimously approved the formation of a task force of citizens to undertake a comprehensive review of Wimberley's Code of Ordinances and recommend changes to the city council. The task force will review all ordinances relating to public works, administration, traffic, general offenses and land usage, and the Planning and Zoning Commission will review the subdivision code and the zoning code. Both groups will make recommendations to the city council regarding any suggested additions or deletions.
The entire review is expected to be complete by December 2012. The council appointed Steve Klepfer, Patrick Rehmet, Charles Roccaforte, D'Anna Tindal and Steve White to the task force, which will begin its work in October.
Ordinance prohibiting through truck traffic on RM 12 and RM 2325 in Wimberley approved
An ordinance prohibiting through truck traffic in downtown Wimberley and establishing a truck bypass route was approved by the city council.
Trucks continuing through town on RM 12 will now use portions of that highway, RM 3237 and Winters Mill Parkway to avoid traveling through the Wimberley Square. Trucks entering or leaving town on RM 2325 will connect to the designated truck route via Jacobs Well Road. Emergency and utility trucks, along with trucks making deliveries in Wimberley are exempt from the restrictions.
The alternate truck route involves three state-maintained roadways, and approval of the route by the Texas Department of Transportation is required. To obtain that approval, the cities of Wimberley and Woodcreek along with Hays County must take action supporting designation of the alternate route.
Friends of Blue Hole fundraiser to celebrate park’s first anniversary
The Friends of Blue Hole organization is throwing a party celebrating the first anniversary of development at blue Hole Regional Park on Saturday, October 8, from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. The Starlight Symphony Orchestra will provide musical entertainment, and there will be tours of the developed portions of the park. A tram will be available for tours of the ongoing construction of the soccer field, basketball court, wildflower gardens, trails tennis courts, children’s playscape, community pavilion, volley ball court, walking trails and more.
Beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tickets are $45 per person in advance and $50 at the gate. Tickets may be purchased at the Old Mill Store, City Hall, Blue Hole and on line at www.friendsofbluehole.org, or by mailing a check to PO Box 1601, Wimberley 78676.
16 comments:
Again, not a word in Mayor Flocke's "update" about what -- if anything -- is planned to provide sewer service for the Square. Las Flores Drive and Blue Hole do deserve attention, but what is the City Council doing to address the health problem on the Square?
If I lived, or had land, anywhere along any proposed "Truck Route" around the Wimberley Square, I would be upset that the City of Wimberley is dictating traffic flow outside their City Limits/ETJ.
Woodcreek and Hays County should stand up for the citizens who have land and houses that will be negatively impacted outside the City Limits and ETJ, so a very few BUSINESSES in the square area (inside the City Limits) would benefit.
Wimberley, the best argument against incorporation of any more communities in the Valley. Corruption follows incompetence which follows greed.
The website for the City of Wimberley is www.vil.wimberley.tx.us.
There you can download the agendas for regular and special City Council meetings and can read minutes of past meetings.
There will be a specially-called meeting of the City Council tonight (Sept.19, 6 pm) to honor city employees. So far, so good. BUT the meeting is being held at a NEW BRAUNFELS restaurant. Are the city fathers and employees afraid to eat at one of the restaurants on the polluted Square in Wimberley?
And why aren't they patronizing a LOCAL business?!
Attend the Wimberley City Council Meeting at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 21 (City Hall, 221 Stillwater).
After the pledge, etc., the first order of business is "Discuss and consider action authorizing legal counsel and City staff to proceed with matters discussed in Executive Session."
Here is what will have been discussed in Executive Session (right after meeting opens): "Discuss legal issues related to the wastewater operating agreement between the City of Wimberley and the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority, pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071 (consultation with attorney)."
That excutive session presumably pertains only to the present wastewater treatment plant which is near, and serves only, Deer Creek Nursing Center on FM 3237. But perhaps City Council would entertain questions, as well, about possible solutions to the lack of adequate sewer facilities for the Square. One can only hope.
I appreciate Bob Flocke's City Briefs. I also receive them by email. His writing is a little dry but at least he is trying to keep citizens up to date on council business and it's much more accurate than the local newspaper. Agree with him/the council or not, at least he's trying to keep us informd. Thanks Mayor Bob!
Sand Dollar,
I can't agree that Mayor Flocke is trying to keep us informed. Do YOU have any idea what the mayor and city council have in mind to fix the Square?
Mayor Flocke puts out little happy-face news about what's happening at Blue Hole and where the Chamber of Commerce will next dine, but we want some hard news about the Square, where our future water supply will come from, etc.
I realize the City budget isn't huge, but these big problems are what a city is supposed to address. Mayor/Council need to determine where the City will get funds to fix the Square sewage problem, and if that means proposing something (such as an ad valorem property tax -- which most cities in Hays County already have) that may cause them not to be re-elected, then they should gut up and do what is necessary anyhow. How long can we allow that public health hazard that is the Square to continue as is?
The "City" of Wimberley is much akin to a teenage marriage. They still want to party when there are urgent issues to deal with. They can't borrow money because they have no credit rating and have not proven they intend to have one. They do not have enough money since they have limited their income and piss away what little they do receive.
Earning the label of the most polluting city in Hays County is becoming a reality. Sewer systems may not be as attractive as Blue Hole Park (Wally World) but it is the responsibility of the city-dwellers who decided to appear as adults. The City continues to spend their sales tax collections on parks, trails, swimming holes and other feel-good amenities to the tune of millions. They spend hundreds of thousands pandering to the complaints of a few by closing streets and then re-opening them. They will not face up to the responsibility that all cities must, infrastructure. Then they turn around and poor-mouth the sewer issue on the square presumably looking for a bail-out from outside tax payers.
The City Council is a classic case of conflicts of interest. The businesses on the square should be shut down until THEY fix their sewer systems. Trying to pass that repair cost on to the people who live in the city with an ad valorem tax will not work. They could raise the sales tax but that would run off their life blood, the suckers that come to Market Days. If they haven't got the cojones to step up to the platter and protect Cypress Creek and the Blanco River, they should disincorporate the city that was fraudulently created and should have never been.
Stop the wholesale polluting of our Creeks and Rivers!
.
Sumpin Stinks,
Very funny and very true! Thanks!
I agree that the most expeditious, and probably fair, way for the Square problem to be resolved would be for the City to close the offending businesses. A "city" has such powers to protect public health AND the health of Cypress Creek, the Blanco River, and downstream neighbors.
You can bet your bippy that if it were Exxon-Mobil polluting the Wimberley Square, they would be shut down in a jiffy. We should treat the pollution-merchants on the Square no differently!
Y'know, the mess on the Square is kinda like the influx of illegal immigrants, in a way: the laws are already on the books to improve both situations, but no one will enforce the laws. In the case of the Square, the City of Wimberley has the legal power to close down and/or condemn any structure or business which constitutes a public health hazard (which sewage pollution from the Square is). In the case of illegal immigrants, ICE has only to start rounding up THE BUSINESS OWNERS who hire illegal immigrants, and that will put the fear of God -- er, the fear of ICE -- in other businessmen. Levying fines on, and imprisoning, businessmen who defy our laws is much simpler, quicker, cheaper, and more effective than building a 10-foot fence (prompting the use of 11-foot ladders) or deploying hordes of gun-toting, monster-SUV-driving ICE men to arrest a relatively small number of hapless illegal immigrants.
Remind me --- how many among the Mayor/City Council have businesses on the Square?
Last Anonymous says:
"Remind me --- how many among the Mayor/City Council have businesses on the Square?"
I understand the underlying sentiment beneath your question.
However, I do know half of the six men on the CC and I can say I think they do a pretty good job with what they have.
Yes. they make mistakes and they sometimes own up to them. Other times it take a hostile Tea Party like election to change their direction. Ok, that is one part of Wimberley.
I have also seen some pretty abusive words from citizens directed at the council members at some meetings. It is ugly and I would not be very patient with such abusive behavior.
So I must say if anyone does not like what the CC is doing, run for office and get help organizing your voting block to oust the people you don't like.
For better or for worse, that is how the two newest CC members got voted onto the CC.
The funny thing about politics these days is how often people who hate government try to get elected to government office.
My view is if you don't like government, get a real job that you enjoy. Why be a masochist and sit as a public servant if you despise government.
It is kind of like "he who can - does; he who can't - teaches, and he who can't teach - teaches P.E."
And don't insult my intellgence by telling me you are a "government watchdog" - while you are directly benefitting from the government teat one way or another.
Serve all citizens, not just the ones you owe favors to.
Wimb. City Council met 5:30 pm today (Sep. 21). They passed whatever they discussed in Executive Session, but no one would till us what it was they passed! Something to do with GBRA is all we know.
City will try to get TxDOT and Hays County to pay the lion's share of work at intersection of RR12 and FM 3237. City may have to pay $240,000 upfront and hope to get back about $140,000 from TxDot. What so urgently needs to be done there anyhow? There are already a traffic signal and a turn lane (from 3237). Seems to me that $100,000-$240,000 could better be spent on starting a City wastewater treatment plant. Even if the plant can't be completed all in one swell foop, at least maybe $200,000 a year or so could be spent on it until it's done. Or, after the city has forked over $200,000 or so of its money, it could probably get grants or loans to complete the project. No one will fork over big bucks to the city for anything until the city shows it, too, is making a financial effort.
It's rather fruitless to spend millions to preserve Blue Hole if the water from it (which makes Cypress Creek) is just polluted by the Square sewage a little further downstream.
If Blue Hole were downstream from the Square we'd have a body count by now. Wimberley takes great pride in their precious Blue Hole and all the money it brings in and doesn't give a damn about their residents and neighbors downstream of the Square. They haven't spent a dime of the money from the Hole to rectify THEIR problem. Talk about chutzpah! The EPA ought to come in and shut the Square down until the problem is fixed permanently.
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