September 19, 2023

National GEAR UP Week proclamation, Ascension Seton Hays Foundation’s Children’s Care-A-Van Program, Downtown Revitalization Project’s 100% Design Plans, Lions Park, SH 142 corridor improvements, tax abatement eligibility for a commercial building in the Historic District, Certificates for Alteration for historic landmarks/district amendment, Housing and Development Committee progress report, Caldwell County Appraisal District Board nominations, and an interlocal agreement with Caldwell County regarding EMS services 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

October 17 – Regular Session

November 21 – Regular Session

December 5 -- Regular Session

National GEAR UP Week:

               Mayor White presented a proclamation to Lockhart ISD representatives recognizing September 25-29 as National GEAR UP Week.

Care-A-Van Program:

            Council approved a $10,000 donation to Ascension Seton Hays Foundation’s Care-A-Van Program. The program’s Associate Director of Development, Mr. Sam Regonini, expressed immediate need to replace the current van to continue the program in Caldwell County in his presentation to Council. Ascension Seton Hays Foundation’s Care-A-Van Program has been providing mobile pediatric medical clinic services, which include immunizations, wellness, and sick visits, in Caldwell County since 2003.

Downtown Revitalization Project UPDATE:

                Council accepted the 100% Design Phase Report of the Downtown Revitalization Project as presented by the City Engineer, which included an updated cost estimate, project schedule, additional drainage improvements, irrigation, pedestrian amenities, parking, curb, and landscaping layouts, along with a look at materials to be used for paving and vegetation. Upon the completion of the Design Phase, the Downtown Revitalization Project entered the Permitting Phase.  Since the project’s Council update in July, the City Engineer and consulting landscape architects with Rialto Studios have received approval from the Lockhart Historical Preservation Commission. Permit applications for various aspects of the project are currently underway with TCEQ, Texas Historical Commission, TxDOT, and Caldwell County. Downtown business and property owners were reminded of the opportunity to provide additional feedback on the downtown project’s design by meeting with the Public Works Director.   

Competitive bidding for the Downtown Revitalization Project is anticipated to be completed by January 2024, with construction beginning in early 2024. For the latest information on the Downtown Revitalization Project, visit the project’s dedicated webpage by clicking here.

Lions Park:

            The Parks and Recreation Director and the City’s Parks Master Plan Consultant, Halff Associates, Inc., presented the Lions Park Conceptual Master Plan, which included public survey results, proposed park improvements and amenities, estimated costs, and potential phases of implementation. Digital representations based on community feedback were also provided in the presentation, which included the final concept design illustrated below:

SH 142 Corridor Improvements:

            Council directed Staff to prepare a cost sharing agreement with TxDOT to make signalization and turning lane improvements at SH 142 and Mockingbird Lane. The agreement will be considered at a future meeting.

Historic District Tax Abatement:

            Council approved Martin Spellerberg’s request for a City tax abatement for eligible exterior and interior improvements to a commercial building in the Historic District, located at 103 S. Main St.

Historic Landmark/District Amendment:

            Council adopted an ordinance amendment requiring all proposed awnings and suspended canopies in the downtown Historic District to be considered through the Lockhart Historical Preservation Commission’s Certificate for Alteration review procedures without a “pre-approved” option.

Housing and Development Committee:

            Council accepted the completion of the Housing and Development Committee’s assignments as presented by the Planning Director, resulting in the adoption of residential design requirements and Planned Development District (PDD) ordinance revisions. The Council-appointed Committee was formed in February 2023 to address strategies to ameliorate the effects of the recent wave of growth.

Caldwell County Appraisal District:

            Council nominated Mr. Alfredo Munoz and Ms. Sally Daniel to the Caldwell County Appraisal District’s Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 term.

EMS Services:

Consideration of an Interlocal Agreement between the City and Caldwell County for EMS services was not acted upon and will be considered at a future special meeting later this month.

City Manager’s Report:

• National Night Out: National Night Out will be held Tuesday, October 3, 2023. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Register your neighborhood by contacting Tina Ramsey by calling (512)398-4401 or e-mail her at tramsey@ps.lockhart-tx.org.
• No City Council Meeting October 3, 2023: The next City Council meeting will be October 17, 2023.
• Lockhart Kiwanis 5K Stampede: The Lockhart Kiwanis Club will be holding its 17^th Annual Lockhart Kiwanis 5K Stampede on Saturday, September 30, 8 a.m. Registration ends Thursday, September 28.
• Fifty-to-Fifty Romeo Fly-in: The Fifty-to-Fifty Romeo Fly-In will be held on Saturday, September 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Lockhart Municipal Airport. The event will feature general aviation aircraft, helicopters, warbird plane rides, flight schools, food, and a sky dive performance. Admission is free.
• City Splash Pads Closing for the Season: The City Park and Maple St. Park Splash Pads will close for the season October 1, 2023. Currently, they are open all seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• City Cemetery Cleanup: October 10 – 11, 2023, Parks/Cemetery Staff will be cleaning up areas throughout the City Cemetery. All deteriorated, weathered, and unsightly items, artificial and real flowers, vases, containers, flags, and miscellaneous items will be removed. If you wish to keep these items that may have sentimental value, please remove them before Tuesday, October 10. Please call the Parks Department at (512) 398-6452 with questions or concerns.
• Fall City-wide Bulk Pickup: The next City-wide Bulk Cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, October 14, 2023. Central Texas Refuse, the City of Lockhart’s solid waste collection contractor, will collect accepted bulk items placed at the curb. Items can be placed on the curb NO LATER THAN October 14, 2023, at 7 a.m. This event is free and open to Lockhart residents only! Click here for a list of eligible and non-eligible items.

ATTENTION: This is a recap of the highlights of action taken at the September 19, 2023, meeting. The complete agenda can be found by visiting: City of Lockhart, TX (lockhart-tx.org).