City of Bastrop Information:

Bastrop City Hall Address:
904 Main Street
P.O. Box 427
Bastrop, Texas 78602
512-303-7305

Council Members & Calendar

City Council Meeting Agenda

Administration Directory

City Holidays Calendar

City of Bastrop Home Page

Dear Friends,

There is often a great deal of publicity about Bastrop’s extraordinary past. We are touted as Texas’ most historic small town, with roots that run deep in Texas’ rich soil. Early Bastropians helped secure Texas independence and laid the foundation for the strong state it has become.

Proud as we are of our early history, though, we have not lost sight of our future.

The Bastrop area has emerged from a period when its population was declining or stagnant, and little in the way of new investment, was taking place. Bastrop is now one of the strongest areas in Central Texas and its residents consistently express confidence in its future. More and more people want to move to our community. Bastropians have backed substantial municipal and school capital investment programs that are rebuilding Bastrop’s aging infrastructure and expanding its capacity for the future.

When asked, most folks in Bastrop are quick to point out the friendly, small-town feel of the place. Bastropians demonstrate pride in the community and a concern for neighbors that is remarkable. We like to open our homes and businesses to visitors. We are notably generous in our support of numerous charities, from educational and social services for children and families to cancer research and care. What a wonderful community! On behalf of the entire Bastrop City Council and City staff, thank you for your confidence and your active participation in the life of our community.

Sincerely,
Tom Scott
Mayor of Bastrop

Retail Sales Boost

Summer Reading Program

New Pet Ordinance

Saving Money, Saving Water

Book Mark Contest

April Road Closure

Landscaping Improvements

Park Upgrades

Clean Sweep

Conservation Landscaping Tips

City Contact List

Retail Sales Boost Bastrop
Economy and City of Bastrop Budget

Bastrop has emerged as a regional powerhouse for retail sales, attracting shoppers from 21 zip codes in seven counties with a population of more than 156,000. This robust retail market is evident in the growing sales tax revenue and growing retail development in the city limits.

The largest retail development presently under construction is the 60-acre Burleson Crossing, located at the intersection of Highways 71 and 304. Developers project that when the project is completed, Burleson Crossing will have 500,000 square feet of retail space, employ 490 workers and generate an additional $120 million in annual sales to the Bastrop economy. Notwithstanding such a significant expansion of retail space in Bastrop, experts suggest that the local market is strong enough to support even more.

For example, for the first half of the City’s fiscal year, local sales tax collections grew at more than 12.5%. For the three-month period ending in March 2008, Bastrop’s retail sales grew at a rate nearly twice that of the statewide rate for the same period.

When local sales tax receipts are averaged for the number of residents who live in each community, Bastrop had one of the highest rates in the region for 2007.

Last year, Bastrop’s retailers generated $267 in local sales tax revenue, for each one percent of tax, per capita. This collection rate exceeded that of all but two of the other communities in the region. Round Rock and Buda lead the region, due to retail sales bolstered by Dell and Cabela’s which are both strong influences on those two communities’ retail economies. Bastrop’s collections were greater than San Marcos, Austin, Giddings, Georgetown, Manor, Taylor, Elgin, Pflugerville, Hutto, Lockhart, Kyle and Smithville.

Local sales taxes provide more than one-third of the revenue needed to finance the dayto- day operations of the City of Bastrop. It is the single greatest source of tax revenue, providing more than twice as much income to the City’s general fund as ad valorem, or property, tax. Because Bastrop has a strong retail position in the region, the City has been able to reserve the bulk of the local property taxes to finance much needed, voter-approved capital improvements, such as the recently expanded public library, street and storm drainage improvements and park and other improvements.

Summer Reading Program

Come “Kick Up Your Heels” at the Bastrop Public Library this summer. The library’s summer activities begin June 7 with a kick-off party at Fisherman’s Park. There will be food, games, door prizes and entertainment at this annual event. But the fun doesn’t stop there. Each week there will be a variety of activities including pre-school story time, Monday movies, games and crafts and teen programs. Special Saturday activities will include Water Day in the Park and demonstrations by percussionist Mark Shelton and Austin Reptile Service.

The goal of “Kick Up Your Heels – Read” is to encourage children, teens and adults to read throughout the summer. This year anyone, whether they are one month old or 100 years old, can join the reading program, keep track of their reading during June and July, and have their name entered in the ‘End of Summer’ prize drawing. As in years past, there will be a multitude of prizes given away including movie passes, tickets to local and Austin attractions, books, gift baskets and restaurant gift certificates.

This summer library readers will be challenged to read one million pages. Can it be done? Well, the librarians have put their heads on the line. If local readers reach the one million page mark, the librarians will each dye their hair blue, green, pink and purple! In addition, there will be a party in September with ice cream, lots of toppings, whipped cream and plenty of nuts to go around!

The summer reading program, “Kick Up Your Heels – Read!” is going to be great. Come join the fun! For more information visit the library’s Web site at www.bastroplibrary.org.


Public Notice: Bastrop Adopts New Pet Ordinance

Beginning April 1, all dogs that are over three months old and being kept inside the City limits must have an animal license. Animal licenses may be obtained at three City locations by showing a current copy of rabies vaccination certificate and proof of spaying or neutering. For animals that are spayed or neutered, licenses are $5 each, or free of charge to those residents over 65 years of age. For animals that are unaltered, the license fee is $25 regardless of the owner’s age.

The ordinance also includes the following provisions:

• Chaining or tethering dogs is prohibited unless the owner remains in visual proximity of the animal at all times.

• All outdoor enclosures used as primary living area for dogs must have at least 100 square feet of living space for each dog six months of age or older.

• Enclosures used to keep four or more dogs must be kept at least 50 feet away from a neighbor’s residence.

• A person may not keep an animal inside a vehicle where the animal’s life may be endangered by high temperature, low temperature or inadequate ventilation.

• A person may not transport an animal in an open bed of a vehicle unless the animal is located in a properly vented enclosure or properly secured to prevent the animal from falling or jumping out or otherwise being injured.

• Dogs may not be left outdoors during times of extreme weather conditions such as when temperatures dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or when a heat advisory has been issued by a local or state authority, or when a hurricane, tropical storm or tornado warning has been issued.

For more information regarding this recently adopted ordinance, or any other animal control question, please contact the City of Bastrop Animal Control at (512)321-1437.

Animal Licenses can be Purchased at the Following Three Locations:
• City of Bastrop Utility Office
904 Main St.
(512)321-3941
• Bastrop Police Department
104 Grady Tuck Lane
(512)321-1437
• Bastrop County Animal Shelter
598 Coolwater Dr.
(512)581-4080

Step 1 — Turn off all water-using appliances, so that no water is being used. This means turning off all water inside and outside the house including showers, sinks, washing machines and any appliance that uses water. If you have an automatic irrigation system, turn off the controller and manually shut off the two valves at the double check valve assembly (DCVA) to isolate the irrigation system.

Step 2 — Take the lid off the meter box and lift the protective cover. Watch the meter. Your meter will have a small red or silver triangle. This is commonly called a “leak indicator.”

• If this triangle is spinning, you have a leak. If there is no indicator and the actual meter dial hand is moving, water is running somewhere in your system and you have a leak.
• If the hand is not moving, note the position of the hand and wait 10 minutes. Check the meter again, if it has moved, you have a slow leak. If the meter hand does not move, you do not have a leak.

Step 3 — Locate the main shut-off valve to the house. This is usually found close to the meter box.

Step 4 — Turn off the valve.

Step 5 — Turn on a faucet inside the house to test.

• If water still flows from the faucet after several seconds, the shut off valve is not working.
• If no water flows through the faucet, the shut off valve is working. Return to the meter.

Step 6 — Check if the meter’s leak indicators hand is moving.

• If the leak indicator or dial hand is still moving, water is flowing between the meter and the shut-off valve. That means you have a leak in the pipe that connects water from the meter to your shut-off valve.
• If it is not moving, then you have a leak in the pipe leading to your house or somewhere in the house. Check toilets, washing machines and faucets for any leak.

Step 7 — To check a toilet for a leak, flush the toilet and, while the tank is still filling, add 2 or 3 drops of food coloring to the water in the tank. After 15-30 minutes, if the water in the bowl changes colors, the flapper valve needs to be replaced.

Locating your water shut-off valve

If a pipe breaks and water is flooding the inside of your home, it’s imperative to know the location of your shut-off valve. This is normally located near the water meter box.

Requiring a customer shut-off valve is a standard practice for water utilities. The valve provides the customer with a readily accessible means to control the flow of water into the home, whether for a routine repair or to prevent damage in the event of a disastrous pipe break.

Some customers use the shut-off valve when they leave home for extended periods of time to prevent any unforeseen damage while they are away.

In an emergency, if you are unable to locate your shut-off valve, please contact the City of Bastrop Water and Wastewater Department at (512) 321-2124.

Book Mark Contest

The Bastrop Public Library, along with Bastrop Independent School District, is holding its second annual bookmark contest. The bookmark contest honors National Library Week, April 13-19.

Students from all 11 schools in the district will create bookmarks on the theme, “Get Fired Up For Reading!” The winning bookmarks from each school are sent to the library where first and second place winners will be selected for each grade level. Grand prize winners will be chosen for five divisions: lower elementary (K-1), middle elementary (2-4), upper elementary (5-6), middle school (7-8) and high school (9-12).

All the winning bookmarks will be on display at the Bastrop Public Library, March 24 to April 19. An awards ceremony will be held at the library meeting room on Saturday April 19. Come by the library and see the great artwork created by the students of Bastrop County

April Road Closure

Construction crews are working to complete new water and sewer lines on South Pecan Street as part of a capital improvement project. During the first week of April, two blocks of Pecan Street will be closed due to the construction and the road will be excavated. Traffic will be detoured to Water and Jefferson Streets until the work is completed. Residents on Pecan Street will be notified to move their vehicles from their driveways in advance of the excavation, so their cars will not be blocked in by the construction.

Work in the area is expected to continue until September, with new sewer lines being installed along Austin Street from Pecan to the railroad tracks. As part of the project, a new water line will be completed from College to Chestnut Streets, and a storm sewer will be completed along Pecan Street. The final phase of the project calls for repaving Pecan Street.

Drainage improvements have been completed on Kani Street to re-direct the storm water runoff which had been collecting on private property.

Landscaping Inprovements Have Been Completed

Landscaping along Highway 71 frontage roads is complete. City staff worked in tandem with parks personnel to remove weeds, place weed barrier and edging, as well as aggregate. The improvements will greatly enhance the appearance of the planters as well as reduce the maintenance costs.

Work continues at the intersections of Grady Tuck Lane, Hasler Shores Boulevard and the western entrance to the HEB parking area off Old Austin Highway. With assistance from Bastrop County Precinct One, City workers were able to move the large boulders from the cemetery to these areas. New plants will be added to the beds along with weed barrier matting, edging and aggregate.

Park Upgrades

Fisherman Park will receive three new bench swings along the river for visitors to relax and take in the view of the Colorado River. Additional improvements include a newly-installed chain link fence around the playscape area, new stainless steel sinks for the bathrooms, three new drinking fountains and an upgraded security system. Ferry Park received new four-seat swings; two for toddlers and two for children.

Clean Sweep

During the week of March 24–29, the City of Bastrop held a spring clean up, encouraging local residents to remove trash, tree limbs and bulky items from their homes and properties. The Public Works Department accepted items such as tires, scrap metal, electronics and oil. Local residents were able to dispose of tree branches and brush at Fisherman Park. The clippings were turned into mulch, which was available free of charge.

To dispose of other items, such as paint, chemicals and batteries, look for LCRA’s household hazardous waste collection, scheduled for the Fall. Clean Sweep is held annually during the last full week of March.

EVERGREEN SHRUBS
Cherry Sage
Pomegranate
Palmetto, Texas Dwarf
Red Yucca
Rosemary
Texas Sage

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS
American Beautyberry
Black Dalea
Butterfly Bush
Esperanza (Yellow Bells)
Texas Lantana
Turk's Cap

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES
Bushy and Little Bluestem
Mexican Feather Grass
Indian Grass

TURF GRASSES
Bermuda
Buffalo
Zoysia

FLOWERING PERENNIALS
Big Red Sage
Black-eyed Susan
Bulbine
Butterflyweed
Coreopsis
Fall Aster
Iris
Mealy Blue Sage
Mexican Bush Sage
Pink Skullcap
Plumbago
Purple Coneflower
Red Columbine
Scarlet Sage