The City of Hutto is proud to announce the newest addition to our website – the council meeting agenda packets. A project that has been considered for the past few years is now complete due to the smart work of the City Manger’s office staffers Tyler Jarl, David Fuentes, and Christine Martinez. The city council meeting agenda packet will now be posted online at the City’s website for the public and media’s use in understanding the items posted for each meeting about 24 hours prior to the council meetings. This project promotes the City’s quest for greater transparency, saves costs and paper by eliminating the agenda packets prepared for the media, and allows for instant review by anyone with internet access as soon as the packets are downloaded.

The first packet is already up for review for the Council meeting of March 4. To access this new feature, simply visit the City’s website at www.huttotx.gov. From the Homepage you may click on the Government icon, then City Council and finally Council Packets. Bookmarks have been established for easy viewing of the agenda items. This newest innovation on our website is part of the City’s continued effort to provide top quality customer service to our citizens.

For additional information, please contact the office of the City Manager at 759-4030.

Throughout the spring semester, the Mayor and members of the Hutto City Council have been teaching various important aspects of local government to the senior students in Mr. David Kinnaman’s Hutto High School Economics Class. These presentations are an extension to the Youth in Government Program. Students have enjoyed interaction and classroom involvement while being versed in topics such as Running for Office – How it Works, Registering to Vote, Quality of Life Issues in Hutto, City Manager-City Council Form of Government and Elections.

Following these presentations, students will be selected to attend Youth in Government Day Friday, April 16 at City Hall and various other city facilities for a hands-on look and participation in their local municipal government. Representative Diana Maldonado will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon planned for the students that day. This is the fifth year for the City and HISD to partner in offering this educational forum to the senior students. Further details on the 2010 Youth In Government Day at the City will be provided in future press releases.

For further information please call Patti Gilmore at the City of Hutto, 759-4034.

Please join the Hutto Police Department for an Open House. [Additional info...]

On February 18th, the City Council approved the second amendment to the 2009-10 Fiscal Year Budget.

General fund adjustments included an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant to increase City Hall’s energy efficiency. Another, being the Solid Waste Grant from the Capitol Area Council of Governments to create and implement a community clean-up event which will be held at the Co-Op site on April 17th.

Not only is the City looking at the present by seeking out means for energy efficiency and improvements, a great deal of time has been spent on planning and preparing for the future. Funds were relocated from the Capital Projects Fund to the Facility Study for the schematic drawings of the future Co-Op site prepared by Antenora Architects.

Utility Fund adjustments include the sell of an utility easement to the Lower Colorado River Authority. The amendment also included bond proceeds to purchase the wastewater treatment plant from the Lower Colorado River Authority. The purchase of the plant is cost neutral to current customers and will help the City to move forward with the planning of a future facility needed to service Hutto’s growth. The new wastewater treatment facility is expected to be operational by 2014.

Lastly, the City will upgrade the Police ticket writer systems and purchase traffic accident mapping equipment.

For additional information visit www.HuttoTX.gov or contact the Finance division at 512-759-4046.

Saturday, March 6, 2010, marks the beginning of the 4th Annual Great Texas Warrant Roundup, known as one of the largest collective efforts of its kind. The roundup involves over 200 law enforcement entities that make a cooperative attempt to locate violators that span the State of Texas.

Participating law enforcement agencies and courts have been sending out notices to violators stating that there is an outstanding warrant for their arrest. It is advised that violations be reconciled before the Roundup begins.

Warrants can be voluntary corrected by simply paying the fines, which can vary between agency. For more information regarding one’s specific warrant(s) and payment option(s), contact the appropriate law enforcement agency.

If anyone has any questions regarding their warrants or of the procedure in the City of Hutto please contact the Municipal Court at 512-759-1011 or visit the city’s website at www.huttotx.gov for more information.

Contact Information:
Travis County Constable Office
Phone Number: 512-854-2107

Got junk? The City of Hutto can help! The City is holding a Community Clean-Up event on Saturday April 17, 2010, from 9am - 12pm at the Co-Op site located along Hwy 79. Only residential items will be accepted.

Dispose of bulk items such as yard waste, old furniture, etc. You can also drop off cardboard, electronics, and other recyclable items at this time. The City will also accept batteries, oil, latex paint, and anti-freeze.

No household hazardous waste items (acids, pesticides, etc.) will be accepted. However, residents wanting to dispose of such items should contact the Utility Billing Department to pick up a free voucher to safely dispose of hazardous items.

This event is made possible through a grant by the Capital Area Council of Governments for the sole intention of creating a city-wide clean up. The purpose is to encourage and educate the public on the ease and importance of recycling. The clean up event will not only educate the public about city recycling services, but it will be an opportunity for the community to examine the multitude of recycling services available in the area.

We hope you are able to join us to make Hutto a cleaner place. Together, we can make a difference!
To learn more, call 759-4046 or visit the City’s website www.HuttoTX.gov.

As a clarification to an article published in the February 10th edition of a local newspaper regarding the traffic safety concerns along FM 1660S, the Texas Department of Transportation has stated that the traffic signal at the intersection of Carl Stern and FM 1660S is scheduled for late 2010 and not late 2011. The Georgetown office of the Texas Department of Transportation has the design for the traffic signal currently underway. The Austin office of the Texas Department of Transportation has prioritized the construction of school driveway signals in the Austin area before the traffic signal at the intersection of Carl Stern and FM 1660S.

In the 2008 Capital Improvement Plan, the City of Hutto estimated the cost for the new signal at this intersection at $300,000. The City continues to work with its state-level representatives and the Texas Department of Transportation for the installation of this needed traffic signal as a priority for traffic safety enhancements in the city limits.

Session 1 9:30 am - 12 pm
Session 2 1:30 pm - 4 pm

The City of Hutto will hold a planning charrette on Saturday, February 27th at City Hall to get input on the future Co-Op Site located along Highway 79. In addition to mixed-use retail, the site will comprise of public space to include municipal facilities, civic parks, and more.

We need your ideas and contributions to decide what features/amenities to design at the site. The charrette will focus on the civic spaces including activities and amenities as well as reuse of components from the existing Co-Op structures.

Two separate sessions are planned for Saturday, February 27th; however, you only need to attend one session. Please RSVP if you plan to participate by calling the City at 759-4046 and specify which session you would like to attend.

SESSION I 9:30 am - 12 pm
SESSION II 1:30 pm - 4 pm

We want your ideas to be heard! Join us in helping form Hutto’s future! To learn more, visit www.HuttoTX.gov. Strategic plans regarding the Co-Op Site can be found under the Strategic Planning Section of the City’s website.

For additional information regarding the planning charrette, please contact Micah Grau at 759-4046.

NOTE TO EDITORS: A photo of the signing is attached. Caption for the photo is: Hutto Councilmember Michael J. Smith, Hutto Mayor David F. Begier, LCRA General Manager Tom Mason, Hutto Mayor Pro Tem Debbie Holland.

On Wednesday, Feb. 10, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) closed on the sale of the
Hutto Wastewater System to the City of Hutto.

The Hutto Wastewater System, which LCRA acquired in 1998, serves about 11,000 Hutto residents. LCRA expanded the system capacity from 100,000 gallons per day in 1998 to its current rating of 1.7 million gallons per day. Under an alliance, the Brazos River Authority operated the plant and LCRA owned, managed and financed it. The two river authorities entered into the alliance to address water and wastewater issues in Williamson County.

“Hutto’s utilities system has allowed for incredible growth during the past decade, and we expect to be ready as the growth continues,” said Mayor David F. Begier. “Through this purchase, the City of Hutto now controls its costs and the future of one of our more critical pieces of utility infrastructure. This agreement will provide more oversight to the City to control costs associated with the wastewater treatment plant and lower the associated overhead with this and future plant expansions.”

“I am proud of LCRA’s contribution to help the city expand its wastewater system to meet the needs of this rapidly growing community,” said Tom Mason, LCRA general manager.

The city purchased the system from LCRA for about $7.6 million, which included the outstanding debt and other costs due under the contract.