Bee Cave council approves CO notice for $17.98M public safety project, matches $6,000 arts grant and backs Highway 71 median changes

The Bee Cave City Council on Tuesday approved publishing notice of intent to issue up to $17,980,000 of certificates of obligation to help fund a new public safety facility, voted to match a $6,000 Texas Commission on the Arts grant for the Bee Cave Sculpture Park and took several other routine and project votes.

The council unanimously approved a resolution to begin the legal and financial steps needed to issue certificates of obligation (COs) to finance construction of the new joint public safety facility that will be shared with Lake Travis Fire Rescue. City staff said the action starts the financing process but does not obligate the city to sell debt; council will consider bids and a final sale later this summer.

Why it matters: The CO authorization is the first formal finance step for a project council members repeatedly described as long overdue. City officials said the notice will allow the city to obtain a municipal bond rating and market the offering to investors before council decides whether to proceed with sales and awards.

Council actions and context

- Certificates of obligation notice (up to $17,980,000): The council passed a resolution authorizing publication and posting of a notice of intent to issue COs for the new public safety facility, equipment and related professional services. City manager Julie Oakley and the city's financial adviser and bond counsel were present to describe the timeline; staff said they expect to return with bids in July for council consideration. Julia Houston (bond counsel, ORIC) and Jennifer Ritter (Specialized Public Finance) answered technical questions. Oakley said the process "starts the process" and that the city can still change course later in the timeline.

- Sculpture Park match and contract discussion: Debbie Childress, speaking for the Bee Cave Arts Foundation, said the foundation won a $6,000 matching grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and asked the city to match that amount from Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds to support replacing and refreshing sculptures. "I'm thrilled," Childress said after describing a fast approaching August 31 grant deadline and plans to install five new sculptures and produce maps and brochures. After discussion about the existing 2013 license agreement and how long‑term maintenance responsibilities should be divided, the council approved the $6,000 HOT match 5–1 and directed staff and council committees to revisit and update the license/agreement when the library/CIP conversations progress.

- Texas Youth Music Festival (HOT application): The council unanimously approved a HOT fund application from the Bee Cave Arts Foundation to host the Texas Youth Music Festival in October, saying the event brings visiting families and artists to local hotels. Staff said prior year attendance generated roughly 20 room nights from out‑of‑town participants and that the city's FY25 HOT allocation pool available for arts projects was approximately $82,000.

- Highway 71 median project (resolution 2025‑28): The council unanimously adopted a resolution supporting modifications to the Texas Department of Transportation's proposed Highway 71 median project within the city. City staff and councilmembers said TxDOT agreed to delay medians between FM 620 and Hamilton Pool Road until roadway capacity improvements reduce the current bottleneck at the Hamilton Pool Road/71 intersection.

- Bee Cave on Ice contract negotiation: After staff reported that three vendors responded to a formal RFP, council authorized the city manager to negotiate contract terms with the incumbent operator, Ice Rink Events, and asked the manager to seek a multi‑year (three‑year) term if possible. The motion passed unanimously.

- Election canvasses and related ordinances: The council unanimously adopted two ordinances canvassing the May election results: Ordinance No. 569 (reauthorizing a 0.25% local sales and use tax for road maintenance) and Ordinance No. 570 (declaring results for the public safety facility proposition). City staff noted canvass procedures follow state election code and Travis County's official canvass.

- Meeting schedule amendment: Council voted to amend the 2025 meeting calendar and move the July regular meeting to July 29 to accommodate member availability and pending finance timing.

Votes at a glance

- Appointment of Andrew Clark as mayor pro tem: carried unanimously (motion and second recorded; roll call not read into record).

- Resolution 2025‑28 (supporting TxDOT median modifications): approved unanimously.

- Bee Cave Arts Foundation HOT match (Sculpture Park) — $6,000: approved 5–1.

- Bee Cave Arts Foundation HOT application (Texas Youth Music Festival): approved unanimously.

- Authorization to negotiate contract with Ice Rink Events (Bee Cave on Ice): approved unanimously.

- Ordinance No. 569 (canvass — reauthorize road maintenance tax): approved unanimously.

- Ordinance No. 570 (canvass — public safety facility proposition): approved unanimously.

- Resolution 2025‑26 (notice of intent to issue COs up to $17,980,000): approved unanimously; council later amended the notice date to align with the meeting calendar.

What council and staff said

City Manager Julie Oakley described the CO resolution as an initial procedural step: the notice "starts the process" and staff will return with bids and a recommendation before any sale. Debbie Childress of the Bee Cave Arts Foundation described the Sculpture Park as a local draw and said the foundation must complete the grant‑funded refresh by Aug. 31; she asked for matching HOT funds to pay for five new sculptures, nameplates, a new park map and promotional materials. Childress said the park has roughly 30 sculptures, of which the foundation owns 10 and that rotating exhibits would keep the park fresh.

Chief of Police (name not specified) presided over a promotional ceremony for Senior Officer Alex Martinez, who was promoted to sergeant; the chief said it was "my distinct honor and privilege to work for the men and women of the police department." The council also heard recognition of teen library scholarship recipients and introductions of new staff, including a new in‑house IT professional, Jacob Harris.

Next steps and fiscal notes

Staff will proceed with the administrative steps required to publish notice for the COs and will return to council with bids and a recommendation in July. Council directed staff to work with the Arts Foundation and the CIP committee to revisit the 2013 sculpture park license agreement and consider maintenance and funding responsibilities before creating a recurring city funding commitment. The Sculpture Park match will be paid from HOT funds; staff indicated the FY25 HOT allocation pool used for arts projects is approximately $82,000. The Texas Commission on the Arts matching grant requires completion of the Sculpture Park activity by Aug. 31.

(Reporting note: The article is based on Bee Cave City Council proceedings on May 13, 2025. Quotations and outcomes are drawn from the official transcript.)