Dripping Springs City Council swears in new members

The City of Dripping Springs City Council convened in person for its regular meeting on May 18 for the first time since May 2020. Council member Taline Manassian was sworn in for another term in Place 1, and reappointed as Mayor Pro Tem through May 7, 2022. Geoffrey Tahuahua and Sherrie Parks were sworn in for Place 3 and Place 5 respectively.

The Council also said farewell to council member Travis Crow and thanked him for serving the last four years.

“I congratulate the new city council members on their victories,” Crow said. “I hope y’all are here to serve the community well. To serve the community, I think you need to know where the community comes from. From the trials and tribulations that make Dripping Springs what it is… change is scary, but also exciting. I remember the stories of how the highway changed from Mercer St. to existing 290 and how everyone thought it was going to kill this town, but it didn’t... What made Dripping Springs special, can’t be lost. This victory has to be fought for, and it’s the council’s responsibility to do what is right for the citizens and the city. I have faith this will be done.”

The first acts of business for the new council members included, authorizing the submission of applications to the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TXDOT) 2021 Transportation Alternatives Program for funding on pedestrian improvements in the Historic Mercer St. District and along Rob Shelton Blvd. Councilmembers also approved Mayor Bill Foulds, Jr. to act as the City’s representative in matters pertaining to the City’s participation in the TXDOT program. A public hearing is set for June. See page 9 for more details.

Other council business took place during an executive session that lasted almost two hours in which members consulted with the City attorney on numerous items, including issues related to Real Property for the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone including the Town Center Project and uses. No action was taken during the open session. Another item was pulled out of executive session for a vote, and the City approved the easement acquisition of the Regional Water Reclamation Expansion Project up to an undisclosed amount. Additionally, the City approved a resolution opposing the operation of the Lazy W WCID in the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction. The agenda items and packet information can be found on the City’s website www.cityofdrippingsprings.com.