Round Rock City Council Meeting - December 5, 2024: Retirement Tribute and Unanimous Approvals
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Round Rock City Council Meeting - December 5, 2024
The Round Rock City Council met on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting featured a special presentation honoring City Manager Laurie Hadley's retirement after 37 years of public service, followed by unanimous approval of the consent agenda, several resolutions, and ordinances. The meeting adjourned at 8:13 PM.
Special Presentation: City Manager Laurie Hadley's Retirement Tribute
- The council and staff celebrated Laurie Hadley's 37-year career, including 14 years as City Manager. Speakers included: State Representative Bucey (presented a legislative resolution and a flag flown over the state capitol), a representative from Congressman John Carter's office (presented a U.S. flag flown over the U.S. Capitol and a congressional record entry), and numerous city directors and department heads.
- Speakers consistently praised Hadley's leadership, integrity, and personal care for employees. Gifts included a personalized hammer, a SWAT helmet, a fire hydrant, a gun, a retirement survival kit, sports equipment, and gift certificates. Council members and staff expressed deep gratitude and noted her role in transforming Round Rock into a major economic hub, securing $274 million in bond funding, and fostering a culture of trust and family.
- Hadley herself gave a farewell speech, thanking her family, staff, and the council. She highlighted key achievements: revitalizing downtown, expanding parks and public safety, and improving infrastructure. She introduced her successor, Brooks Bennett, and expressed confidence in the city's future.
Consent Calendar
- F.1 – Approval of minutes from the November 21, 2024 City Council meeting. Approved unanimously.
- F.2 – Resolution amending officers and employees authorized to perform transactions with TexPool. Approved unanimously.
- F.3 – Resolution authorizing an agreement with Patterson Equipment Company for sewer inspection equipment parts and repair. Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the Citizen Communication portion.
- G.1 – Public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 2023 Consolidated Annual Performance & Evaluation Report (CAPER). Joe (Community and Neighborhood Services) presented: the budget allocation was $629,258; $94,388 was allocated to social services (rent/mortgage assistance, food pantry, senior services, child advocacy). 1,115 Round Rock families were served. The council also contributes an additional $215,000 from the general fund to support local nonprofits. No public testimony was offered; the hearing was closed.
Discussion Items
- H.1 – Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with RRTX Lake Creek Hotel, L.P. (Ruby Hotel) for economic development incentives. City will loan approximately $2 million with interest for renovation of the hotel property; the loan will be repaid within four years, with interest forgiven if timely payments are made. A 75% economic incentive based on hotel property tax payments through 2029 is included. The city will acquire land for a bridge landing for the trail system. The project includes an event center with outdoor amplified sound allowed until 10 PM on Friday/Saturday and 9 PM other days. Approved unanimously.
- H.2 – Amendment No. 4 to the Software as a Service Agreement with Tyler Technologies for the Munis ERP system (financials, HR, payroll, utility billing). Total cost over three years: $1,371,034. Approved unanimously.
- H.3 – Updated Investment Policy & Strategy. Approved unanimously.
- H.4 – Quarterly Financial and Investment Report for the quarter and year ended September 30, 2024. Approved unanimously.
- H.5 – Agreement with Fun Abounds, Inc. for playground equipment at Bowman Park (CDBG-funded). Cost: $155,623. The existing playground was installed in 2009; replacement includes more shade structures. Approved unanimously.
- H.6 – Purchase Order to Intelligent Marking USA, Inc. (Turf Tank) for two GPS paint robots for field striping. Cost: $112,250. Expected 50% efficiency gain, allowing staff reallocation. Approved unanimously.
- H.7 – Professional Consulting Services Agreement with CDM Smith, Inc. for a water supply study. Cost: $343,650. The study will evaluate additional water sources (e.g., Trinity Aquifer, Carrizo-Wilcox, water reuse) to ensure supply beyond build-out population of 270,000. Approved unanimously.
- H.8 – Easement Purchase Agreement with 18245 FM 1431, LLC and Parks for the Win, LLC for a 0.361-acre electric utility easement required for the BCRUA Phase 2 Raw Water Delivery Project. Cost: $102,252; Round Rock's share is 28% (~$28,000). Approved unanimously.
- H.9 – Quantity Adjustment/Change Order No. 1 with Lone Star Site Work, LLC for the Chisholm Trail Road & W. Old Settlers Blvd. Right Turn Lane Improvements Project. Cleanup change order: $101,929. Project completed. Approved unanimously.
- I.1 – Ordinance amending Chapter 42 to designate portions of Mickey Mantle Pl, Sandy Koufax Ln, Ty Cobb Pl, and Rod Carew Dr as school speed zones (20 mph during school crossing times). First reading (requires two readings). Approved unanimously.
- I.2 – Ordinance amending speed zones on Kenney Fort Boulevard from Forest Creek Drive to Old Settlers Boulevard, setting the speed limit at 50 mph based on an engineering survey. First reading. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All consent agenda items, resolutions, and ordinances were approved unanimously (7-0).
- The council authorized the mayor to execute a real estate contract for the purchase of property at 1004 East Rock Cove (L.1) and for properties at 509 Sheppard Avenue and 512 Burnet Street (L.2) after executive session.
- The council recognized the retirement of City Manager Laurie Hadley and formally accepted her service.
- Brooks Bennett will assume the role of City Manager.
Meeting Transcript
Tonight's invitation will be given by Pastor Dave Coppel of Palm Valley Lutheran Church. Pastor, thank you for all you do in our community, and thank you for being here. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Let us pray. Lord, our God, we give you thanks and praise for this community. We give you thanks and praise for the opportunity to be here in this city in this great state. Tonight we ask your blessing upon this meeting. We especially pray for all of our council members, for our city manager, for our mayor, our attorney, our mayor pro tem, and our city clerk. And Lord God, tonight, we especially thank you and celebrate you for Lori Hadley for the difference she has made in this city, for the blessing that she has been. Lord, we thank you and praise you, and we ask that you keep your hand on her as she continues the next part of her journey. Lord God, we ask that you fill us with wisdom, with courage, with strength, and with faith that we may honor you and serve the people of this community. In the name of Jesus, we pray, and God's people said. Council Member Fleming? Council Member Ortega? Here. Council Member Montgomery. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas one state under God. All right. We'll come back to citizen communication. If there's anybody, uh, we're gonna jump to E1. Why don't you go ahead and let Renette Councilmember Flores help? All right. Consider a presentation and appreciation of City Manager Lori Hadley's 37 years of public service. So what we'll do is I've got a list of people that are gonna do presentations. Uh and then after we get done before uh the mayor and council uh speak, then we will see if anybody in the audience wants to say a word or two. We're gonna put her, we put her down there because she where she can see everybody. Uh and uh y'all can hug each other's neck and all that. So then we're gonna bring her back up, but we want to make sure she doesn't fall. So good luck. I love you. All right, representative Bucey. Good seeing you. Good to see you right. Thank you for what you've been doing for us at the state. We appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you so much. Mayor Morgan, members of council, city staff, and members of the public. I'm honored to be here tonight to commemorate the transformational leadership and celebrate the retirement of city manager Lori Hadley. Williamson County is a special place to live, and Round Rock is its beating heart. We would not be the city and the community we are today without the exceptional work Lori has done in guiding us to where we are today and setting us up for the future. It's time for us to say thank you for the impact Lori has left. The significant progress made on parks, public safety, major road and infrastructure projects, creating jobs and economic opportunities and higher education, and much more in Laurie's tenure will continue to shape our community for decades to come. Lori has always exemplified the best of our values and our hopes and dreams for a better future. There is nothing we could ask of any public servant more than that. I brought with me a resolution signed by myself and my colleague representative Caroline Harris Davila to express our gratitude and best wishes. I've also brought a flag flown over the state capitol. And uh and I'd just like to quickly read one small excerpt from it, uh, which is whereas Lori Hadley is retiring as the city manager of Round Rock in December 2024, drawing to a close 37 years of outstanding service in local government, and whereas Lori Hadley has consistently upheld the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and public service, and she loses behind a legacy that will continue to benefit the city of Round Rock for many years to come.
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