Round Rock City Council Packet Briefing - December 17, 2024
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Round Rock City Council Packet Briefing
This meeting was a packet briefing held on December 17, 2024, at 7:30 AM to review and discuss agenda items for the upcoming City Council meeting on December 19, 2024. No public comments were made, and no formal votes were taken; the briefing served as a discussion and information session for council members.
Staff Briefings
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F1 – Resolution on Alternative Project Delivery Methods: Staff presented a resolution authorizing the city manager to determine when alternative project delivery methods (e.g., construction manager at risk) provide the best value. The resolution is allowed under the Texas Government Code; contracts will still come to council for approval. Council member Ortega asked about the timing, and staff clarified that the delivery method selection occurs during project development, before bidding.
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F2 – Purchase of Tractors: Staff clarified that the original request to replace three tractors at $197,000 was reduced to two tractors at $131,000 because extensive repairs were made to one tractor, extending its life by 1–2 years. The tractors are used for drainage ditch mowing and maintenance. Council member Flores asked about equipment hours; staff noted that tractors have low hours (1,500–1,800) but heavy use in mud causes wear, so they aim for replacement at around 5,000 hours.
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F3 – Old Settlers Build-Out: Rockin’ River Expansion (Package 3C): Staff presented a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) amendment for the construction of the new Rockin’ River action river (with barrel and typhoon waves), VIP rental areas, and 160 new parking spaces. The project is on schedule and on budget, with a target completion of April 2026. The existing Rockin’ River will remain open during construction. Council member Montgomery expressed enthusiasm for the project.
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F4 – Old Settlers Build-Out: Harold Parkway (Package 3A2): Staff reviewed the GMP for the Harold Parkway section, which includes three subsections. Construction will restrict access to parts of Old Settlers Park, but alternative access to baseball fields will be maintained. Staff noted that the low water crossing (Package 3A3) may exceed budget by approximately $7 million, requiring a decision in January 2025. The current GMP (3A2) remains within budget.
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F5 – EPA Grant Application for Solid Waste Recycling Facility: Staff requested council approval to submit a grant application to the EPA for up to $5 million to improve the recycling facility on Deepwood Drive. The grant would fund the first phases of a master plan; the total estimated cost for full renovation is $8–10 million. If the grant is not awarded, the city will proceed with phased improvements using already budgeted design funds. Council member Flores asked about land ownership and concept renderings.
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F6 – Change Order for BCR WWS East Plant Expansion: Staff presented a $1.1 million change order (No. 4) with Dale Construction for the regional wastewater treatment plant expansion. The costs are shared among four cities; Round Rock’s share is approximately $500,000 due to damages from an interceptor issue. Council member Montgomery asked about cost allocation.
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F7 – Engineering Contract for Chandler Creek Wastewater Upsizing: Staff requested approval of a $266,000 engineering contract with Kimley-Horn to design upsizing of a 12-inch wastewater line in Old Settlers Park to accommodate increased flow from the park and upstream developments. No questions were raised.
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G1 & G2 – Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Rezoning at 3751 Fisher Cove: Staff presented a request to amend the Future Land Use Map from Residential to Mixed Use, and rezone 1.02 acres from MF1 (multifamily low density) to MUR (mixed use residential redevelopment) to allow an indoor pickleball facility. The property is near a fire station and office uses. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval unanimously; no public speakers opposed. Council members had no questions.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken; all items were discussed in preparation for the December 19, 2024 City Council meeting. Council members expressed general support for the staff recommendations. The mayor pro tem noted that the December 19 meeting will begin at 5:00 PM instead of the usual 6:00 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Get into a shortage of supply or some some vendors specialize in tractor tires, some vendors specialize in light duty, and so we like to have multiple avenues. But let's take a look at each of their costs. All right. And then so it's it's 500,000 per year from for all three of them. All right. And so why do I see a cost of two million 500,000 at the bottom? That's that's for the 60 months. Two five years. Oh, five years. Five years. So it's five hundred thousand dollars a year for five years for two point five total for all three vendors. Thanks for that clarification. Yep. Any other questions on the consents? No. All right. Resolutions F1 consider a resolution designating the city manager determine when alternative project delivery methods will provide the best value to the city. Stephanie? Yes. Um so we've we've discussed this a bit already, but um this is gonna be a resolution that's gonna allow the city manager um to determine uh which alternative delivery method is the best um for individual projects. This is allowed under the government code, and the agreements will continue to come to council. This is just that first step to determine um the delivery method, and those will now go to city manager. I'm happy to answer any questions. Questions council member Ortega? So then my understanding is that the primary goals and projects will be developed later on the road as well as any of the alternative delivery methods aligned with that, right? Um so this will be yes, when the project is in development, um, we're you know, I did the project's been identified, and and we're getting, you know, kind of close to determining, you know, it's time to go out to bid, then that's when the selection of the delivery method will be made, and then it'll go out to bid, and then you'll see the contract come back. So it'll be part of the project development process. Thank you. Any other questions? Nope. Okay. F2 consider a resolution authorizing the city manager to issue a purchase order to associated supply company inc for the purchase of tractors. Chad. All right. We're so I'm I'm gonna show you a clarification, and I apologize for the clarification. Um just gonna see if this'll this will pull up real quick here. Um we're gonna replace three tractors. Um that's not that's not your eyes, it's hopefully hopefully. So originally we were gonna replace three tractors, and that the three tractors was gonna be 197,000. Um the we Michael and I got involved and we decided we don't really need to replace three, let's just replace two. And the reason is, and I'll show you a picture of if this the screen starts working. Um, we actually removed the transmission and pulled a clutch pack already out of one, literally split a tractor in two, and we had it in the shop for about a month, and so we decided that let's go ahead and keep that one for a year or two because we've done such extensive work to it. And so you'll see in your pack, and this is the clarification. Um, the total cost is gonna be 131,000. Um, the original cost for three of them was gonna be 197. That says 197 up there, and so I'm not sure what's in if your packet says 197 or if it says 131. And so I just wanted to do a verification. And I apologize, Ann, for for us getting involved so late on this, but we were just we were looking for we're always looking for ways to save money, and if we think that tractor can make it, let's go ahead and keep it a couple more years. And so I'll show you a picture of what tractors I know we love seeing uh the pictures of the tractors here. So here's this is the tractor that we use, and we use these tractors for uh drainage ditches and uh uh mostly drainage ditches, mowing and that kind of thing, um, through Michael Thane's group.
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