CITYMANAGER
THECOMMUNITY
Known as the “Heart of the Lost Pines,” Bastrop, Texas, is a unique community that couples
historic small-town charm with big-city amenities and an exceptional quality of life. The City
covers approximately 11 square miles and is the county seat of Bastrop County. Bastrop is
strategically and centrally located on State Highway 71, with convenient access to AustinBergstrom International Airport, and within easy distance of three major metropolitan areas.
With Austin just 30 miles to the west, Houston two hours southeast, and San Antonio oneand-a-half hours to the south, Bastrop is in a very advantageous position for cultural and
economic development.
Bastrop is among the oldest towns in Texas. Originally the site served as a meeting ground
for the Tonkawa and other Southwestern Indians. It also provided a vital Colorado River
crossing on the Old San Antonio Road, a major part of the El Camino Real de los Tejas. The
area was settled in 1804 and officially established on June 8, 1832. Bastrop founder
Stephen F. Austin named the City for his longtime friend and co-worker, the Baron de
Bastrop. The City takes pride in its cultural heritage. A rich harvest of classic Texas folklore
and well-preserved architecture and artifacts provide a glimpse into Bastrop’s past.
Today, this dynamic city is growing. With a current population of approximately 8,600,
Bastrop proudly preserves its historic past while embracing the challenges of modern-day
growth and economic needs. It has been named an official Texas Main Street City by the
Texas Historical Commission, a designation that helps the City preserve its past, as well as
promote responsible growth. The 2010 census showed the City of Bastrop's population
increased 30.93% from the previous census in 2000. It is estimated the City has grown an
additional 20.14% since 2010. The projected population for 2021 is 9,345. It is important to
note that many individuals who are part of the Bastrop community do not live within the City
limits, but do use City services such as the Bastrop Public Library.
Bastrop’s tranquil setting amid the natural beauty of Central Texas' Lost Pines region includes
extensive Colorado River frontage and abundant recreational opportunities. The Colorado
River runs through Bastrop and is perfect for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. The El Camino
Real Paddling Trail is about six miles long and runs from Fisherman's Park to a take-out point
near Tahitian Village. Other nearby attractions include three golf courses, two state parks, a
nature preserve, Lake Bastrop, and the world-renowned Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort,
which draws many tourists from all over the world who were previously unaware of this
charming little town. Encouraged by the extremely positive response from these visitors, the
City has added several community events that attract tourists from all over the state.
Bastrop plays host to several annual events, such as the Patriotic Festival, Homecoming &
Rodeo, Yesterfest, Halloween Festival, the Veterans' Day Car Show, Juneteenth Celebration,
and Lost Pines Christmas, which features a Wine Swirl, Lighted Parade, River of Lights, and
historic home tours. Harvest Art Fest, now in its 30th year, takes place annually every
Thanksgiving weekend and features local artists and craftsmen. Several events are hosted on
the Colorado River throughout the year, including the Colorado River 100 and the SUP Cup.
CITYOFBASTROP,TEXASCITYMANAGER
THECOMMUNITY,CONTINUED
Downtown Bastrop represents a unique blending of the old and new. Nestled on the banks
of the Colorado River, the historic district is filled with a variety of shops and restaurants.
The historic ambiance of downtown is complemented by nearby neighborhoods containing
over 130 historical sites. At the First Friday Art Walks, downtown businesses have wine and
snacks for visitors, and the Bastrop Fine Arts Guild hosts their featured artist of the month,
with live music and entertainment provided.
Bastrop's proximity to Austin makes it easy to take advantage of the abundant recreational
and leisure activities offered there, including the new NLand Surf Park—North America's first
surf and wave park—as well as Formula 1 racing, Austin City Limits, and SXSW.
As part of a greater metro area of more than 2 million, Bastrop has experienced tremendous
economic growth and is poised for future growth and development. AEI Technologies has
purchased property from the Bastrop EDC and will be relocating its medical equipment
manufacturing facility from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Coghlan Group, a Bastrop-based
company specializing in the handling of clinical trial material, recently moved into a new 60,000
square-foot building. Wholesale electrical parts distributor Elliott Electric Supply recently opened its
new facility in the Bastrop Business and Industrial Park. Major area employers include Bastrop
Independent School District, Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort, Bastrop County, MD Anderson
Cancer Center, Walmart, Bastrop Federal Correction Institute, and H.E.B. Food Stores.
There are several major development projects currently underway. Construction has begun
on River's Bend at Pecan Park, a 312-acre mixed-use development. The master-planned
community consists of 530-plus home sites on 230 acres along the Colorado River, plus the
82-acre commercially zoned Pecan Park Center. The Bastrop Fine Arts Guild is renovating
the historic Powell Cotton Seed Mill on Chestnut Street to become the new Lost Pines Art
Center and Sculpture Garden. The 9,000 square-foot building will include a state-of-the-art
gallery, classroom spaces, artist studios, a gift shop, and a wine/coffee shop.
Area students are served by Bastrop Independent School District, which has an enrollment
of over 10,000. Bastrop ISD’s boundary covers an area of 433 square miles and includes
the communities of Bastrop, Cedar Creek, Red Rock, Rockne, Paige, and rural areas of
Bastrop County. The district’s Colorado River Collegiate Academy was one of only 400
institutions that earned all possible Academic Distinctions in 2016, with other schools in the
district earning distinctions in social studies, science, math, and postsecondary readiness.
The cost of living in Bastrop is 8.4 percent lower than the overall U.S. average. The City has
a median income of $46,363 and average home value of $163,783.
GOVERNANCE&ORGANIZATION
The City of Bastrop is a home rule city with a council-manager form of government. The City
Council consists of the Mayor and five Council Members, all elected at-large, who serve
three-year terms limited to six consecutive years. The Council appoints the City Manager,
City Attorney, and the Judge of the Municipal Court.
The City of Bastrop has an annual budget of over $42 million and 125 employees. The City’s
ad valorem tax rate is $0.564 per $100 of assessed valuation.
MISSION
The mission of the
City of Bastrop is to
provide efficient and
proactive services
that enhance our
quality of life and
achieve our vision.
CITYOFBASTROP,TEXASCITYMANAGER
LEADERSHIP&INNOVATION
An immediate priority for the next Bastrop City Manager will be improving the overall functioning
and public perception of the City’s government by bridging political divisions at the City Council
level, raising the morale of the City workforce, and improving the City’s image. Setting a new
tone for the City and improving the City’s competitiveness within the Capital Metro Area will be
critically important.
The City continues to experience intense growth, along with the challenges associated with it.
The Bastrop City Council is seeking a City Manager who can capitalize on the community’s rapid
growth and ensure that the City is prepared to support new developments and annexations as
they occur. Infrastructure development necessary to accommodate growth must be assessed in
conjunction with maintenance and operational needs. The City Manager will be responsible for
making sure City employees, in particular the Planning Department, are flexible and nimble, and
for helping the community and staff successfully transition as the community grows in size.
The incoming City manager will also need to address these challenges:
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Managing pending litigation/dispute resolution
Developing an additional water source to meet the City’s long-term needs
Securing additional wastewater treatment capacity for future growth
Addressing major flooding/drainage issues
Developing and implementing a Strategic Annexation Plan
Renewing dated infrastructure in the City’s most mature neighborhoods
IDEALCANDIDATE
The City of Bastrop seeks a visionary but grounded servant leader to serve as its next City
Manager. The City Council desires a mature, emotionally intelligent, disciplined, ethical,
transparent, and inclusive manager who is unflappable in crisis or conflict. The next City Manager
will not be afraid to challenge the status quo or take risks to advance the City’s interests. The
selected individual will be a strong and charismatic leader who is a good listener and exceptional
communicator, with the ability to assist the City Council through the decision making process.
If the City of Bastrop is to realize its full potential as a council-manager government, the next
Bastrop City Manager must be a skilled governance coach who will make certain that both
elected officials and appointed officials stay within the functional lanes assigned to them by the
City Charter. An ongoing priority for the City Manager will be making sure the City Council is a
policy-making body that steadfastly focuses on “ends,” while City staff focuses on “means.”
The City Council seeks someone who will communicate with it continuously, fully, directly, and
frankly. The successful candidate will be politically savvy, while always remaining politically neutral.
The City Manager should be as supportive and responsive to individual Council members as
possible but never at the expense of the City Council as a body. Creating and maintaining a close,
positive, trusting, and highly productive relationship with the City Council will be essential.
The next City Manager will be expected to take a well-led and talented City workforce to the
next level. The ideal candidate will have the ability to unite the organization with a shared
sense of purpose, promote teamwork, fully articulate expectations, delegate responsibility
with clarity, and encourage accountability at all levels. The City Manager should create a
CITYOFBASTROP,TEXASCITYMANAGER
IDEALCANDIDATE,CONTINUED
culture of excellence, employing best practices and promoting continuous improvement at
every level of the organization. Guaranteeing that the needs of residents will be met with the
highest degree of professionalism and outstanding customer service will always be a priority.
The chosen candidate will be a fiscally responsible manager with a “Lean” orientation whose
highly advanced finance and budget skills will ensure the City always meets its fiduciary
responsibilities. The next City Manager will expertly guide the City Council in cost
management strategies, financial policy alternatives, creative public financing strategies,
and public-private financing strategies.
The new City Manager should have a strong background in economic development and, in
coordination with the EDC Executive Director, aggressively promote business development
and job creation within the City. The City Manager will build close working relationships with
the Bastrop business community and ensure that City policies and personnel are “business
friendly” without compromising quality or safety.
It will be important for the new City Manager to be highly visible and active in the community.
An outgoing “people person” who passionately embraces Bastrop’s culture and genuinely
supports its traditions will be successful.
EDUCATION&EXPERIENCE
The selected candidate must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or
university in public administration, business administration, or a related field and must have
10 or more years of progressively responsible municipal government operations experience,
including five years of experience as a city/county manager or assistant city/county
manager. A master's degree is preferred.
COMPENSATION&BENEFITS
The City of Bastrop offers a competitive salary dependent on experience and qualifications. The
City participates in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) at a 6% employee deposit
rate with a municipal matching ratio of 2:1. A comprehensive benefits package is also provided.
APPLICATIONPROCESS
Please apply online at: http://bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches
For more information on this position contact:
Mike Tanner, Senior Vice President
Strategic Government Resources
[email protected]
361-813-3707
This position is open until filled. To view the status of this position, please visit:
http://bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches
The City of Bastrop is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. Applicants
selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check.
VISION
The City of Bastrop
is a diverse and
welcoming
community that
celebrates our town
character and
energy,
distinguished history
and unique
environment.
CITYOFBASTROP,TEXASCITYMANAGER
RESOURCES
City of Bastrop
www.CityofBastrop.org
Bastrop EDC
www.BastropEDC.org
Strategic Plan
www.PlanBastrop.org
Retail Studies
www.BastropEDC.org/BastropRetail
Housing Studies
www.BastropEDC.org/community-profile/housing
Bastrop Chamber of Commerce
www.BastropChamber.com
Visit Bastrop
www.VisitBastrop.com
Downtown Bastrop
www.BastropDowntown.com
365 Things to Do in Bastrop
www.365bastrop.com
Bastrop TX Network
www.btxn.tv
City of Bastrop on Facebook
www.facebook.com/BastropTX
City of Bastrop on Twitter
www.twitter.com/CityofBastropTX
City of Bastrop on YouTube
www.youtube.com/BastropTX