June 6, 2023

GBRA’s Carrizo Groundwater Supply Project Update, lateral entry pay for new police officers, new City-owned hangar rental rates, Public Improvement Districts Policy, comprehensive schedule of fees revision, and the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee were discussed at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

Pictured left to right (front row): Mayor Pro-Tem Angie Gonzales-Sanchez, Mayor Lew White, Councilmember District 3 Kara McGregor. Pictured left to right (back row): Councilmember District 1 Juan Mendoza, Councilmember At-Large Brad Westmoreland, Councilmember District 4 Jeffry Michelson, Councilmember District 2 John Castillo.

Upcoming Meetings

June 20 – Regular Session

July 4 – Meeting CANCELLED for Independence Day

July 18 – Regular Session

GBRA Carrizo Groundwater Supply Project UPDATE:

               Mr. Peter Newell of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) updated Council on the Carrizo Groundwater Supply Project’s progress. Updates include the TCEQ approving Lockhart’s Interconnect Permit, the completion of Lockhart’s Champion tank, the near completion of the M5 integration pipeline to Lockhart, and the Texas 130 project, which takes water around the east side of the city to a second delivery point in Lockhart.

Police Lateral Pay:

               Council approved special seniority pay, also known as lateral entry pay, for newly hired, experienced police officers. Lateral entry pay would allow the Lockhart Police Department to start an officer with previous law enforcement experience at a higher pay rate than basic entry pay reserved for an officer with no previous experience. Lateral entry pay does not alter the newly hired officer’s rank.

               Lateral entry pay is a common recruitment tool used by cities throughout Texas, including Kyle, San Marcos, New Braunfels, Seguin, and Taylor.

City Hangar Rental Rates:

               Council approved a resolution amending City-owned hangar rental rates at the Lockhart Municipal Airport as recommended by the Airport Advisory Board. Upon Council approval, hangar rental rates increase $100 per month in each category and simplifies the rate structure by only having a month-to-month rate. Current T-hangar occupants will be notified of the increase this month, which will be reflected in the July 2023 rental fee.

The last time hangar rental rates were adjusted was in 2005.

Public Improvement Districts:

            Council directed the City Attorney to bring back a revised Public Improvement District (PID) policy that addresses change of ownership at a future meeting.  A PID is a designated area where property owners pay a special assessment for improvements and services within that area. The services must benefit the PID area and are supplemental to services already provided by the City.

Comprehensive Schedule of Fees:

            Council approved a resolution to revise the fees for development applications, including planning-related fees (annexation, zoning and subdivision applications), building-related fees (building permits, trade permits, commercial and residential inspections), and updating fees for sign permits, fence permits, tree removal permits, and Certificates for Alteration in the Courthouse Square Historical District. New fees have also been put in place for the following:

• Annexation petitions
• Subdivision variances
• Right-of-way vacations
• Tree removal permits
• Inspections of public improvements constructed for subdivisions
• Zoning verification letters

Commercial new construction fees, as approved by City Council in 2022, remains the same upon approval of the resolution.

               The fee revisions were prompted by a surge in development in Lockhart. An overwhelming percentage of staff, equipment, furniture, and other related costs related to this development surge are covered by the City's general fund. Updating the fee levels will help ensure that development activity is paying for the use of city resources while freeing up more of the city's general fund for other priorities.

               The new fee schedule will be effective September 1, 2023. Planning-related fees have not been updated since the 1990s, along with Building fees in 2019.

Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee UPDATE:

Council appointed the following members to the citizens Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee:

• City Council: Mayor Pro-Tem Angie Gonzales-Sanchez and Councilmember Jeffry Michelson
• Planning and Zoning Commission: Ric Arnic and Brad Lingvai
• Lockhart ISD: Superintendent Mark Estrada
• Lockhart Chamber of Commerce: Winn Smith
• Greater Caldwell County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Jonathan Gonzales
• Lockhart Economic Development Corporation: Mike Kamerlander
• Downtown Business Association: Sally Daniel
• Parks Board: Russell Wheeler
• Lockhart Historical Preservation Commission: Ron Faulstich
• Community leaders from various areas in Lockhart: Frank Gomillion, Kim Coleman, Donna Blair, and Andi St. Leger
• Alternates: Sarah Partridge, Timothy Juarez, Jr.

The Steering Committee will hold public meetings on the current state of the city and gather community input regarding goals, objectives, and strategies to guide the next 20 years of Lockhart’s growth. Once the updated plan is adopted by Council, the Committee will be dissolved.

City Manager’s Report:

• TxDOT FM 2720 Public Hearing TxDOT held its first public meeting/open house on the FM 2720 Improvement Project last week to gather community feedback.The project proposes to widen 7.2 miles of FM 2720 from SH 142 in Caldwell County to SH 21 in Hays County.
  • The concept plans now show a stub-out for a future, new direct east-west connector north of McElroy Metal that would connect FM 2720 directly to SH 130.
  • Also, the intersection of FM 2720 and SH 142 would be slightly redesigned to connect at a right angle to improve visibility and meet modern roadway design.
  • TxDOT plans to hold another public meeting on the project this Fall.
  • For more information, visit: FM 2720 improvement project from SH 21 to SH 142 (txdot.gov)
• Chisholm Trail Roundup: The Chisholm Trail Roundup begins this week with the Cowboy Breakfast at the Courthouse Square on Wednesday, June 7, at 6:30 a.m., and the Chisholm Trail Roundup itself Thursday through Saturday, June 8 – 10, at City Park. To allow for event setup, City Park will be closed to the public this week. It will be reopened Sunday, June 11. W. San Antonio St./SH 142, from San Jacinto St. to S. Colorado St./ U.S. 183, will be closed to traffic for the Chisholm Trail Roundup Grand Parade 8 a.m. – noon.
• Movies in the Park: The first Movies in the Park this year is Saturday, June 17, 8:30 p.m. featuring Super Mario Bros. Admission is free.
• Lockhart Summer Teen Center and Skyhawks Summer Camp: The Lockhart Summer Teen Center for teens, aged 13-18, begins this week. Registration is also open for Skyhawks Summer Sports Camp.
  • The Lockhart Summer Teen Center is a partnership between the City of Lockhart and Lockhart ISD. The program is aimed towards teens, aged 13-18, and held at the M.L. Cisneros Education Support Center (419 Bois D’Arc St.) Monday-Fridays, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Activities include board games, basketball, flag football, indoor soccer, cornhole, and horseshoes. Lunch is provided.
  • Skyhawks Summer Sports Camp is a partnership between the City and Skyhawks, providing children, ages 4 – 12, skill-based, sports camps. Participants may choose among nine sports for their weeklong camps: golf, basketball, capture the flag, ultimate frisbee, baseball, flag football, soccer, dodgeball, and swimming.
    • For more information, visit skyhawkssatx.click/Lockhart of call the Parks and Recreation Department at (512) 398-6452.
• City Pool: City Pool opens for the season on Wednesday, June 14. In celebration of Juneteenth, Saturday, June 17, the admission fee for City Pool will be waived for “Free Swim Day.”

ATTENTION: This is a recap of the highlights of action taken at the June 6, 2023, meeting. The complete agenda can be found by visiting: City of Lockhart, TX (lockhart-tx.org).