If you missed tonight's Town Council/Board of Trustees meeting on November 18, we have a comprehensive recap for you to review.
Community Events and Announcements
- Holiday festivities planned for December 3rd, including Mr. and Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, stilt walkers, snow globe pictures, and a Christmas monkey.
- Keller PD offers house checks for residents traveling during holidays; info available on the town website.
- Reminder to participate in the Westlake Academy/school district survey regarding school-age children and school choices.
- Mayor’s volunteer cleanup had 16 participants, collecting 18 bags of trash; program to expand to Academy students and residents.
Fire Department Demo: New Cardiac Monitor
- Fire department presented the new LifePak 35 cardiac monitor, replacing the older LifePak 15.
Aspen Lane Rezoning Public Hearing
- Proposal to rezone 25 acres at 4110/4120 Aspen Lane from R5 Country Residential to Town Center Edge (TC) for detached single-family use.
- Council discussion raised:
- Desire for a lower housing density (8-10 homes instead of 19-21), large lots, and tree preservation.
- Need for comprehensive traffic and infrastructure studies before moving forward.
- Consensus that future steps must include neighbor input and more detailed planning.
- Motion passed to table the rezoning proposal, requesting the developer return with a plan for about 8 homes and further infrastructure impact details.
Recognition of Student and Arts Achievements
- Westlake Academy students recognized for awards, their upcoming trip to Paris, previewed performance of Aladdin, Jr
Policy and Town Administration Updates
- Approved text amendments for Entrada PD District to clarify repository use, location restrictions, and performance standards; new permit required.
- Utility rate restructuring adopted: eliminated the upper water tier (over 100,000 gallons to be charged same rate); less than 10% of bills impacted.
- Approved contract with Driven Security for standardized access control and high-resolution camera systems at Fire/EMS Station 1 and Public Works, including five-year license/maintenance.
- Renewal of Republic Services trash/recycling contract, reflecting public survey feedback:
- Trash day moved to Thursday starting in January 2026, hazardous materials/shredding/electronics/EV battery disposal added, price increased from $14 to $22/month due to rising costs.
- 4% annual increase cap included
Westlake Academy Board of Trustees – Public Comments & Presentations
- BRW Architects presented storm shelter options for campus master plan:
- Reviewed pros/cons and costs for design options: gymnasium, auditorium, cafeteria, and standalone shelter, plus five potential campus sites.
- Most recommended: a gymnasium on the northwest side (site B) to serve as shelter and multi-use space; board discussed importance of flexibility, cost, and future campus growth.
- Discussed potential for below-grade shelter (increased cost), and summarized site trade-offs for each building type.
- Changes to library policy to comply with new Texas law: parents now have online access to the library catalog, can block students from checking out specific titles, and materials acquisition lists will be posted publicly for 30 days before purchase—no books blocked so far, process running smoothly.
- Audit presented for FY24-25: unmodified (clean) opinion, six findings (no material weaknesses), improved financial outcome vs. budget projections; Board and auditors discussed fiscal year change and process improvements.
- Code of Conduct updated to align expulsion procedures with state law, clarifying due process and superintendent actions per statute.
