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The Dripping Springs City Council heard and acted upon several items at the regular meeting on Feb. 4.
One was a proposed ordinance from the Parks and Community Services department regarding e-bikes, which was presented by director Andrew Binz.
“As electric bicycles become more and more popular, we're seeing them more often in our parks,” Binz said. “The electric bike is a much heavier bike, and going at that rate of speed we feel it is dangerous on some of our trails.”
The ordinance proposed that electric bikes not be allowed at Dripping Springs Ranch Park or Charro Ranch Park, where the trails are shared by horses and pedestrians.
“We would like to allow electrical bikes, with pedal assist only, at Founders Park and Sports and Rec Park, because we do think it is a good option for many people that need that assistance to ride a bike,” Binz said.
Effectively, riders of e-bikes would be able to use pedal assist functions, but not the throttle, on the trails at Founder’s Park and Sports and Rec Park. It also provides that ebike speeds cannot exceed 10 miles per hour.
After some discussion, the ordinance passed.
Next on the agenda was a resolution authorizing the publication of the notice of intention to issue City of Dripping Springs Combination Tax and Limited Revenue Certificates of Obligation in an estimated amount not to exceed $14.5 million dollars.
“For full transparency for everybody sitting here, if we were to approve this, what would our total tax rate be?” Mayor Bill Foulds Jr. asked.
Shawn Cox, Deputy City Administrator, responded that it would depend on appraised values. With new properties coming in, it will shift a little every year. Preliminary calculations show that two cents on the tax rate would cover the cost of the issuance. The tax rate right now is 17.94, so that would bump it to 19.94.
“If we chose to keep it at that 17, we would make those adjustments in the operating budget,” Cox said. “The goal is to keep the tax rate as close to what it is now, without having to raise it as part of our budget process.”
Presenters then noted that this resolution is only approval of the advertisement to go in the paper, which notifies the public of the intent to sell the bonds. The council then has 45 days to act on it. The bid proposals would be presented for a vote at the April 1 board meeting.
“I think I still have a lot of questions and concerns about the number, and the things that we're doing, but I understand that this isn't committing us to doing anything yet tonight,” council member Wade King said. “This is just committing to publishing everything that is required in order for us to have a more serious conversation.”
In further discussion, presenters noted that the amount is a cap, and if the council wants to go lower, they can. But they cannot exceed that amount. The council then voted and approved the resolution.
In other actions that night, council member Sherrie Parks read a proclamation naming the month of February as Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. This proclamation, presented with representatives of the Hays Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC), is part of a national effort to raise awareness about the impacts of dating abuse.
According to HCWC, 1 in 3 young people will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse by someone they are in a relationship with. The center has resources available to guide discussions at www.stopthehurt. org.
“As it said in the proclamation, we did reach an audience of nearly 800,000 with our digital tool kit downloads across the world, but we're most proud of the work that we do right here in our communities,” Holly Cunningham Kizer, HCWC chief development officer, said. “We're happy to partner again with Dripping Springs ISD to put on the 10th annual dating violence mock trial, which will be held February 21st at the Hays County Justice Center. It’s a long-standing partnership, working with these excellent young people to bring awareness to dating violence in the communities.”
