Herrera4Leander

Issues

Taxes: City of Leander is financially hamstrung due to its lack of commercial growth and its relationship with CapMetro. The City has allowed these two items to divert over $100 million dollars of taxes to go to Cedar Park and CapMetro in the form of sales tax revenue over the last 4 years. If nothing changes it will be another $150 million in the next 4 years. This revenue could have been used to improve public safety and make Leander more attractive to businesses. We can see the impact on the debt load the city carries and how they conduct their business in a reactionary way at times. Where would we be if the City was able to carry out it plans if they had the money? I imagine a much better place when it comes to all the cities issues.

Solution:

  • Communicate on a monthly basis the new business development and its impact on the sales tax.
  • Communicate on a monthly basis the financials and ridership of CapMetro relationship
  • Highlight efforts to attract retail and commercial.
  • Provide proactive leadership to Economic Development Committee to create relationships to attract high profile companies.

Future – Leander will be able to reduce its property tax as the sales tax becomes a bigger part of the revenue side for Leander.

Water: Water reliability has been an issue for Leander for many years and we will have operated at Stage 4 water restrictions for the month of February and March this year. Leander has enough water; we have a water treatment problem. Leander owns 47% of Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA), but when there is an issue, Leander owns 100% of the problem. BCRUA is critical to Leander’s current and future water security needs

Solution:

  • Active Proactive Leadership on Board that protects the interest of Leander’s investment
  • Add more Leander Leadership to the Board
  • Promote BCRUA taking on following standards similar to AWAA Effective Utility Management standards for process resiliency
  • Audit and Validate current BCRUA long term plan for resiliency

Growth: City of Leander has watched the cities around it attract high profile businesses that have driven their overall growth. While Leander’s growth trajectory is accelerating, does it model to the city’s comprehensive plan? What are we doing to attract employers for commercial development and top tier retailers.

Solution:

  • Market Leander to top tier business development groups by having a open houses/development fairs run by the City, with the cooperation of City Council, The Chamber of Commerce, Local Developers and Landowners.
  • Update the Comprehensive Plan to tighten up zoning that promotes the growth the City wants and needs.
  • Get feedback from developers why Leander is not selected and work on addressing legitimate items.

Communication: The City of Leander does not communicate effectively to the community related to the cities accomplishments and goals. This has affected the cities image in the marketplace and its local community.

Solution:

  • Create a Quarterly Dashboard that is a half page ad in Community Impact running quarterly highlighting:
    • CapMetro Relationship – Ridership – Sales Tax Cost – City Projects Underwritten by CapMetro
    • Water Usage – Approved Projects and Water Usage versus Water Capacity – key water highlights
    • Growth – New Major Retail/Commercial Businesses Approved and those live – highlighting the growth of Sales Tax to the City of Leander compared to our neighbors on a per capita basis.