Bee Cave mayor: Council to vote on master plan for Central Park, city logo
Bee Cave is abuzz this month with exciting news! On Sept. 12, the City Council will vote on whether to approve a new master plan for Central Park as well as a new logo and tagline for the city. Both of these projects have been in the works for more than a year and we know the community is excited to see the results. Come on out to City Hall at 6 p.m. on Sept. 12 to take a look!
Regarding traffic, we are working hard to come up with more solutions to provide relief. Over the summer, we worked with city engineers and the Texas Department of Transportation, as well as the Lake Travis school district, to make getting in and out of Bee Cave Elementary and Bee Cave Middle School easier. Through restriping on Vail Divide and TxDOT adding a turn lane into Bee Cave Elementary, we have seen immense relief and we are now re-evaluating to see if additional changes need to be made.
Events to note
We hope you got a chance to come out to the Hill Country Galleria this summer to enjoy Magnolia Theatre Group’s inaugural performance of "Beauty and the Beast." With almost 20,000 people coming out to see the show over the course of a few weeks, we are so happy to know how much the community appreciates this free exposure to high-quality theater. Before next summer, you’ll want to dig out your 80’s gear because Magnolia announced its next show will be the musical sensation "Footloose." While the city of Bee Cave is proud to be its major sponsor, the group also relies on fans of its shows to keep going. To donate any amount you’re comfortable with, please visit their website at magnoliamt.org.
Another event you won’t want to miss is the city's third annual Haunted Trail. This year, we have two separate events. The Haunted Trail & Tunnel for adults and kids 13 and older will be from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 27 and Oct. 28 starting on the trail behind Chick-fil-A in Bee Cave. Magnolia Musical Theatre will be involved, so you know the theatrics will be realistic enough to give you a fright!
Then, on Sunday, Oct. 30, bring the younger kids out in costume for our kiddie trail and trunk-or-treat with area businesses. Plenty of candy and fun surprises will be on hand, including a kiddie train, for an extra special holiday weekend.
Both events are free. Park in the Target parking lot; the trail starts behind Chick-fil-A in Bee Cave. Thanks to Target and Hill Country Indoor for being sponsors of this event.
Water and fire
With the current drought conditions and fire risk, we want to let you know of a valuable resource in our community. Lake Travis Fire Rescue offers free assessments for your home and will work with your neighborhood on an evacuation plan, should it ever be needed. Don’t wait until the last minute to plan; our fire team wants you to be prepared for any eventuality. Visit LTFR.org to get more information.
Additionally, please check with your neighborhood’s water provider to know the appropriate days and times you can water so you don’t risk getting fined. Due to over-irrigation, water is being used faster than it can be pushed out, so please be conscientious of what you’re using.
Budget, books, beautification and (speed) bumps
In August, the City Council approved the budget for the new fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. We are so happy to be able to provide so many services and resources to you while maintaining one of the lowest property tax rates in the state. That’s due to the sales tax revenue from our great businesses in Bee Cave. So, next time you shop, make sure you keep it local! That money funds our Police Department, fire services, events throughout the year, park improvements, trails, our local roads and much more.
Speaking of roads, we hope you enjoy the median beautification on Bee Cave Parkway. This was done by the Backyard as part of its development agreement. Beautifying more of our medians is certainly on our city’s wish list!
Big news for our Bee Cave Public Library. Our much loved and lauded library is slated to get a new building to accommodate all the programs it puts on throughout the year for kids and adults of all ages. The site has been chosen; it will be right off Texas 71 at the old “Revival” site backing up into Bee Cave Central Park. We are excited that the library will have the use of the park for some of its bigger programs, like the Books & Bees festival that will happen again in the spring.
Finally, we’ve heard from a lot of you about the new speed bumps at the Hill Country Galleria. As that is private property, those aren’t roads maintained by the city (even though City Hall is there – so I know it’s confusing). However, we’ve shared your concerns with management at the Hill Country Galleria and they’ve told us they are in the process of replacing them with something more comfortable for drivers.
Please feel free to reach out to me at any time. I love meeting with residents and discussing how to keep our city thriving and beautiful: kking@beecavetexas.gov.
Kara King is the mayor of Bee Cave.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Bee Cave mayor: Council to vote on plan for Central Park, city logo
