My 13 year service to the community of Horseshoe Bay, the longest in my career, will end on December 1. Little known to most, my wife Dr. Rosanna Winter and I began coming to HSB in 1993 after purchasing a lot and joining the HSB Resort. Over the next several years on many weekends, one could see our family lounging by the pool and the beach at the Yacht Club, entertaining our friends for lunch or dinner at Resort restaurants, shopping for fashionable swimwear and the latest HSB t-shirt designs and attending the annual POA meetings at Quail Point. I also fondly recall driving around the circle at Horseshoe Bay Blvd. and Hi Circle North and admiring the statue of Norman Hurd, who I was not able to meet, although I was fortunate enough to talk with Wayne Hurd several times for needed historical and other information in my early days here.

At the conclusion of my initial interview in the summer of 2007, when I was debating whether or not to accept the position with the City, I still remember the words of former Police Chief Bill Lane, who had noticed the distinctive HSB property owner tag on my car. He remarked in his joking but serious way, “If you don't take this job and I find you coming through town any time, I will immediately and personally escort you to the City limits.” So, you see, I had no choice but to take this job or be forever banished from this beautiful, uniquely planned community.

I have been truly blessed in my 35+ year career that started with a Bachelor’s degree in urban and regional studies at the University of Michigan and a Master’s degree in City Planning from Georgia Tech. My career encompassed many aspects of city, county and rural planning, zoning, building permit and inspection and code enforcement administration, economic development, federal and state grants, business retention and much more in several communities in the Midwest, South and Texas. However, the most enjoyable years were spent here working with so many talented and wonderful department heads, staff and Council and board members. It has been a privilege to watch a sleepy resort village grow from 15-16 new residential permits per year in the mid 2000's into a city with new housing construction everywhere you look. Currently there is a monthly average of over 100 new residences under construction, with new ones being approved every month. If you could hear the phone calls or attend the numerous meetings, you would recognize that this increased pressure to build does not come without some real trials and tribulations. Like many positions of this nature, it has had its ups and downs.

Looking back over the last 13 years, the accomplishments I am most proud of are:

1. Revising the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Ordinance and preparing a multitude of new ordinances and ordinance amendments for oak tree trimming, adopting new and updated Building Codes, the Contractor Registration Amendment, and the Tuscan Village Planned Development, to name only a few.

2. Participating in the City’s High Performing Organization/World Class program as part of the City Manager’s Leadership Team and helping the Development Services Department also learn these programs, especially Leadership at all Levels, which has resulted in our becoming the well-respected customer service oriented department that residents and builders actually enjoy working with and contacting.

3. As an example of implementing Leadership at all Levels, giving entire staff the freedom, the resources and the guidance to work together as a team with their varied expertise to develop and make presentations for the City's first Future Land Use Map that was adopted by HSB City Council in 2018, but also not telling them how to do it.

4. Activities such as the annexation, Planned Development, review of building plans and monitoring of inspections for Horseshoe Bay Center to develop a long-awaited grocery store, Ace Hardware, and Ace Storage in the City.

5. Coordinating closely with all of the Architectural Control Committees and POA's on the many building construction projects undertaken over the years.

6. Establishing, training, and advising the several Planning and Zoning Commissions and Boards of Adjustment.

7. Working with the applicants, developing and reviewing Ordinances for the Planned Developments of Zone 12 Summit Rock, Zone 17 The Hills, Zone 18 The Parks at Horseshoe Bay, and the defunct Village of Sienna Grove, or lest we forget, the humungous Village Square project proposed for behind the former American Bank back in 2008.

8. Establishing and administering the City's Substandard Building program to obtain Municipal Court orders for demolition of several townhouses, mobile homes and houses, and the repair of the Texan Mart, and the Building Contractor Registration program to vet new builders and protect new and surrounding homeowners after the Texas Residential Construction Commission that had been responsible for contractor registration statewide was abolished.

9. Working for more than a year with the Development Review Committee on the Development Guide which was adopted by Council this year.

I owe much gratitude and thanks to all the staff members who served with me throughout my tenure from the early days with Bobbie Havins, Mike Light and Jimmy Jones to the current highest quality staff a Director in this world class community could ever have - Jessica Noaker, Christina Reinhardt, Ray Garcia, Sandra Nash, and Mac Montoya.

I would also like to mention a few of the local “movers and shakers” who I have the utmost respect for and appreciate for their historical background and knowledge, and who provided me with useful information I needed in order to do my job well: Sam Tarbet, Ron Mitchell, former Mayor Bob Lambert, Dean Blaine, and Mike Walsh. I also have much appreciation for former Mayor Steve Jordan and Mayor Cynthia Clinesmith and all the Council Members for their support of me and the Development Services Department over the years, and all the Department Heads I have had the privilege of working for and with. A big thank you also goes out to Rich Emerson at ATS Engineers in Austin for his Building Coder knowledge and expertise. I would like to especially thank City Manager Stan Farmer for his counsel, guidance, and vision for setting the City on the road to be a High Performing Organization and World Class community.

Most of all I have enjoyed the people who are Horseshoe Bay – property owners, business owners, homeowners, developers, and building contractors who I have assisted with on all kinds of applications and projects.

Though it saddens me to end my career in such a wonderful community, I am looking forward to new opportunities to share my time with family and friends, exploring new venues, learning new skills, and sharing my perspective with the younger generation.

Thank you, Horseshoe Bay!