Round Rock City Council Meeting – February 27, 2025

The Round Rock City Council convened at 6:00 PM on February 27, 2025, led by Mayor Craig Morgan. The meeting opened with an invocation by Pastor Sean Dealey of Good Hope Baptist Church, followed by the pledges of allegiance. Council members approved routine consent items, heard staff presentations on information technology and a new five-year economic development strategic plan, and voted on several infrastructure contracts and a zoning change. A public hearing on a rezoning request was held and approved. The meeting recessed into executive session at 7:42 PM and reconvened at 8:24 PM with no action taken.

Consent Calendar

• G1: Approved minutes from the January 29, 30, and February 13, 2025 City Council retreats, and the February 13, 2025 City Council meeting. (Unanimous)
• G2: Approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Ryan Sanders Sports Services for professional turf management services.
• G3: Approved a revised resolution authorizing application to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles for the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority Senate Bill 224 Grant Program.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jacob Portillo (2720 Loris Lane, Flickerville, TX) – Licensed hairstylist offering to volunteer his time at the Spring Fling dance on March 14, 2025. He asked for a chair and an outlet to style attendees. The council took his information for follow-up.

Presentations & Reports

• Information Technology Update (F1) – IT Director Ramsey presented a department overview. Highlights: The public safety CAD/RMS project is on track for go-live in February 2026; an Axon body and in-car camera refresh is underway; the CityView GIS application now includes aerial imagery dating back to 2008 (updated quarterly). An internal customer service survey showed 88% satisfaction with employee professionalism and accessibility, and 84% overall quality. Cybersecurity improvements (SIEM, new spam filters, network segmentation) and fiber redundancy efforts (partnering with Transportation for conduit on Kenny Fort) were noted. Six new team members joined; two awards were won by the GIS team (Trimble Infinity Award and Esri SAG Award). Councilmember Fleming thanked the team for their support.
• Economic Development Strategic Plan (F2) – Jordan and consultant Barry Hickey (Hickey Global) presented the final plan. The nine-month process included stakeholder engagement, economic ecosystem analysis, and cluster study. Six focus areas: marketing/business retention & expansion, talent, quality of life, strategic partnerships, real estate, and 53 strategies. Key recommendations: establish a “cool advisory group” for community branding, encourage food trucks to open brick-and-mortar restaurants in Round Rock, explore a downtown Main Street program, consider a city-controlled business park, and create a larger retail incentive fund. The plan noted Round Rock’s strength in collaboration among education, business, and government, but warned that success can lead to complacency—urging continued investment. The implementation will use an Excel-based tool for adaptability.

Discussion Items

• H1 – Fire Station No. 10 – Approved a resolution declaring Braun and Butler Construction Inc. as the best value for constructing Fire Station No. 10. Nine bidders submitted; four shortlisted; Braun and Butler ranked first. This will be the second fire station built under the current bond. (Unanimous)
• H2 – Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) – Presented by Finance Director Milana and auditor Patrick Simmons (Whitley Penn). Received an unmodified (clean) audit opinion with no internal control findings or material noncompliance. Federal single audit found no issues. Key stats: General fund ended with a positive variance due to vacancies; $6.5 million in federal expenditures in FY2024 (including CDBG and ARPA). The city retains its triple-A bond rating and all transparency stars (one of eight cities in Texas). ARPA funds are fully programmed for CRU operations and stormwater capital projects, to be spent by Dec. 31, 2026. (Unanimous)
• H3 – TexPool Transactions – Approved a resolution amending the list of city officers/employees authorized to perform transactions with TexPool, replacing Kevin with Susan. (Unanimous)
• H4 – Trails Master Plan Update – Approved a $149,985 professional consulting agreement with RVI Planning + Landscape Architecture to update the Trails Master Plan (last updated 2014). Since the last update, 25 miles of trail have been added. The update will take 6–9 months, include stakeholder engagement, and focus on north‑south connections and regional coordination. (Unanimous)
• H5 – Playground Equipment at Old Settlers Park – Approved a $1.87 million agreement with We Build Fun Inc. for purchase and installation of playground equipment in the Lake View area. The new structure will be a showpiece with LED lights, adaptive features (sway fun area for special needs), and a separate tot area. No zip line was included due to past breakage and injuries. (Unanimous)
• H6 – Police Radios – Approved a purchase order to Motor Solutions Inc. for 21 Motorola radios (10 handheld, 11 in‑car) to cover 10 new budgeted police positions. (Unanimous)
• H7 – Mental Health Services for Police – Approved a five‑year agreement (not to exceed $150,000) with Vulpine Resilience PLC to provide a second mental health resource for police employees, complementing current services from Tanya Glenn & Associates and the city’s EAP. (Unanimous)
• H8 – Reuse Water Pump Station – Approved a $2.64 million contract with Proda Inc. for a second electric utility feed, pump addition, and resiliency improvements at the reuse water system at the regional wastewater treatment plant. Proda was the low bidder and scored highest on qualifications. (Unanimous)
• H9 – Kenny Fort Blvd Segment 5 Waterline Engineering – Approved a $338,000 supplemental agreement with CPY Inc. dba STV Infrastructure for design of a 24‑inch waterline extension along the future Kenny Fort Segment 5 roadway (from Old Settlers Boulevard to Walling Bradley Drive). Design to be complete for bid in summer 2026. (Unanimous)
• H10 – Kenny Fort Blvd Segments 2 & 3 Change Order – Approved a $79,000 bonus (quantity adjustment change order #10) to JD Abrams LP for its asphalt subcontractor, Lone Star Paving, due to higher than specified asphalt quality on the newly opened Kenny Fort Boulevard segments. The bonus incentivizes longer‑lasting pavement. (Unanimous)
• H11 & H12 – Materials Testing Services – Approved two agreements with Terracon Consultants Inc.: $127,000 for Wyoming Springs Extension Segment 1 (Brightwater Creek Bend to Old Settlers Boulevard) and $131,000 for Red Bud Lane North (Highway 79 to County Road 122). Both are time‑and‑material contracts for soils, concrete, and asphalt testing. (Unanimous)
• H13 – U.S. Highway 79 Engineering – Approved a $1.3 million contract with HDR Engineering Inc. for preliminary engineering (to 30% plans) for widening US 79 from I‑35 to AW Grimes Boulevard (2.2 miles). The project will become a six‑lane divided roadway with a shared‑use path; an overpass will carry US 79 over AW Grimes. Texas Department of Transportation will cover at least 90% of right‑of‑way costs and 100% of construction. Public outreach planned after 30% plans. (Unanimous)

Public Hearing

• I1 – Rezoning 71.88 acres from Planned Unit Development (PUD) No. 149 to SF‑3 (Single‑Family Mixed Lot) – The property is located northeast of State Highway 130 and University Boulevard, adjacent to Salerno and Siena MUDs. The previous PUD allowed townhomes on private streets but was not marketable. The new SF‑3 zoning permits single‑family detached homes with varying lot sizes (estate ≥10,000 sq ft, standard ≥6,500 sq ft, small ≥5,000 sq ft). The developer may opt for enhanced design standards to allow more small lots. Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval 8‑0. One resident from Salerno expressed concerns about drainage, but staff determined runoff would flow away from Salerno. No other public testimony. Council approved the ordinance on first and second reading (unanimous).

Key Outcomes

• All consent items (G1‑G3) approved unanimously.
• All resolutions (H1‑H13) and the rezoning ordinance (I1) approved unanimously.
• The council recessed into executive session at 7:42 PM under Texas Government Code §551.087 to discuss economic development incentives; no action was taken upon reconvening at 8:24 PM.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:24 PM.