From City Manager Brenda Eivens: We're in a Good Place

City Council adopts Fiscal Year 2023 Budget, sets lowest tax rate since 1998 

Budget focuses on public safety, provides resources for new assets coming online; average homestead homeowner will see a slight decrease in City portion of taxes

Greetings, City of Cedar Park resident,

I’m Cedar Park City Manager Brenda Eivens, reaching out to you to say how glad I am you choose to make Cedar Park your home. We’re in a good place here in Cedar Park. What do we mean by that? Cedar Park is not only a great place for families and neighbors, but it also has a healthy local economy and strong City finances. 

Last night, our City Council unanimously adopted the City Budget for Fiscal Year 2023, which starts on October 1. Council also dropped the tax rate by 4.2 cents, making our tax rate now 39 cents per $100 of assessed taxable value. It’s the 10th straight year Council has dropped the tax rate and is one of the lowest City tax rates in the region. With this new tax rate, even with rising property values, our average homeowner with a homestead exemption (75% of homeowners) should see a slight decrease in the amount paid to the City of Cedar Park. 

While the City portion represents 20% or less of your overall property tax bill, you can count on the same high-quality city services and sound infrastructure you’ve come to expect, and you’ll see us start on the voter-approved Transportation/Mobility, Parks and Public Safety projects as we implement the 2022 GO Bonds Program.  

This budget’s biggest public safety enhancement for Police Officers and Fire first responders is the launch of a new Mental Health Unit. It consists of specialized Police Officers and embedded mental health professionals – all dedicated to providing acute response to people in mental health crisis, offering follow-up and connecting them and their families to the resources they need.

The budget also includes resources for exciting new amenities coming online! Lakeline Park Phase One, set to open this fall, adds more than 100 developed acres to our Parks system and includes four new athletic fields, over three miles of trails, a canoe-kayak-and-fishing area, a large playground with zip line and a large multipurpose pavilion/performance stage.

During this time, I especially want you to know that the City of Cedar Park is maximizing every public dollar. How? We recently earned a AAA Bond Rating (a.k.a perfect credit score) from S&P Global. It’s already saved taxpayers over $750,000 on the recent bond issuances. S&P commended us for our sound debt management strategy which has already saved millions – and this year’s budget saves even more by planning $3 million in early debt payoff. 

In closing, I want to thank you for entrusting us with your investment in Cedar Park. We are proud of our talented and dedicated staff who serve our community on a daily basis, and together with you, our residents, we’re definitely in a good place! 

Warm Regards,

Brenda Eivens

City Manager                                                     

No irrigation system or sprinkler use Sept. 21-Oct. 4

During BCRUA's scheduled, critical underwater repair

What's happening?

The Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) BCRUA serves as Cedar Park's secondary water treatment plant, providing approximately 20 percent of Cedar Park's total daily water use. The BCRUA has scheduled a critical underwater line repair.  During repair, BCRUA plant will be offline and we'll be relying solely on the Cedar Park water treatment plant:

• Wednesday, September 21-Tuesday, October 4

• Irrigation/sprinkler use prohibited

• Handheld hose watering allowed (with sprayer that has auto cutoff)

• Indoor use not affected

• cedarparktexas.gov

Update: Brushy Creek Splash Pad closing after Sun., Sept. 18

Due to BCRUA scheduled critical repair of water line

Due to the scheduled, critical underwater repair of the BCRUA water line, the Brushy Creek Splash Pad, currently open weekends only, will now close for the season one weekend earlier than planned. The Brushy Creek Splash Pad is open Saturdays and Sundays only, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. through September 18. It will then close for the season.  

All areas of Brushy Creek Sports Park and Brushy Creek Lake Park are now re-opened. 

Reminder: these parks are in the Brushy Creek inundation easement and are designed to handle flooding.

Take the Cedar Park Hazard Mitigation survey

Thank you for reviewing and commenting on the City of Cedar Park Hazard Mitigation Plan. 

This plan identifies natural disasters and vulnerabilities, long term strategies for protecting people and property from similar events and is required by FEMA for various grant opportunities.

For years, Cedar Park has been part of the Williamson County Hazard Mitigation Plan, but we are transitioning to an independent plan to focus on the unique needs of our community. 

This survey is open for public comment until September 25, 2022.

UPDATE: Bell Boulevard Road Realignment Project

UPDATE: Lane striping delayed due to wet weather conditions

Crews must wait for asphalt to be completely dry before they can apply lane striping paint to the newly-paved top layer of asphalt, to finish the Bell Boulevard Road Realignment Project.  When they are able to do the lane striping, remember:

• It's from Cypress Creek Road, to just north of Cedar Park Drive
• All-night work: 8 p.m.-6 a.m.
• No work on Friday and Saturday nights

Reminder: traffic alert for New Hope Drive

Various lane closures as BCRUA makes repairs to water line

• The Contractor for BCRUA still working at various locations along New Hope Drive between 183A and Bagdad Road including vicinity of Main Street/Blockhouse Drive through approximately September 16
• Work requires various lane closures, resulting in delays 
• No more full road closures anticipated
• Please drive with caution

Municipal Court accepting applications for Teen Court

Movie in the Park: Encanto

Friday, September 9, 7:45 p.m.

Elizabeth Milburn Park

1901 Sun Chase Blvd.

Free and open to the public

Find out why "we don't talk about Bruno" (in case you don't already know!) and enjoy movie-themed activities and lawn games before the movie.

Concert in the Park: Weldon Henson

with pre-concert dance lessons from Allyson Lipkin

Friday, September 30, 7-9:30 p.m.

Elizabeth Milburn Park

1901 Sun Chase Blvd.

Free and open to the public

Dust off your boots and two-step over to Milburn Park for some Texas honky-tonk music from Weldon Henson.  Plus, dance instructor Allyson Lipkin, a native Texan and avid two-stepper, will provide dance lessons before the show, to help you with the "Texas swing" of things!

The September 8, 2022 Regular Scheduled City Council Meeting was held in a hybrid in-person/videoconferencing format. The public may take advantage of the opportunity to attend remotely.  

Highlights included:

• Proclamation honoring Kate Pape, first female Eagle Scout in North Shore District
• Adoption of Fiscal Year 2023 Budget and Tax Rate of $0.39 per $100 of assesed taxable value
• Update on Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) underwater pipeline repair and consent to Cedar Park's portion of repair cost

Watch the video recording of the the meeting-here.

The next Regular Scheduled City Council Meeting is September 22, 2022.

Congratulations, Eagle Scout Kate Pape!

Congratulations to Kate Pape, who recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout! Kate is the first female Scout in the North Shore District to achieve this honor. Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin presented Kate with a Proclamation recognizing this achievement.