Round Rock City Council Meeting – May 8, 2025: Proclamations, Public Safety Training Center, and Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority Updates
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Round Rock City Council Meeting – May 8, 2025
The Round Rock City Council met on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting began with an invocation, pledges of allegiance, and a call to order. Councilmember Michelle Ly was absent because she was receiving an award in Austin. The council unanimously approved several proclamations, the consent agenda, all resolutions, and two ordinances. Key topics included proclamations for Preservation Month, Pride Month, and Air Quality Awareness Week; funding for the Public Safety Training Center Phase 2; replacement of windows at the Griffith Building; interlocal agreements with Georgetown and the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA); setting speed limits on Kenney Fort Boulevard; and updating youth recreation program standards.
Consent Calendar
- F.1 – Approval of minutes from the April 24, 2025, City Council meeting.
- F.2 – Resolution authorizing an Environmental Professional Consulting Services Agreement with Freese and Nichols, Inc.
- F.3 – Resolution authorizing an Agreement with Nouveau Texas, LLC for elevator maintenance and repair.
- F.4 – Resolution authorizing Supplemental Agreement No. 2 with Vermeer Texas-Louisiana, Inc. for utility equipment.
- F.5 – Resolution authorizing an Agreement with Tempset Controls for HVAC services.
- F.6 – Resolution authorizing an Agreement with Pirtek Riverside, LLC for hydraulic hose repair and maintenance. All consent items were approved unanimously by a single motion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No citizens registered to speak during Citizen Communication.
- A public hearing was opened and closed for Ordinance H.2 (Youth Recreation Program Standards of Care); no one testified.
Discussion Items
Proclamations (Items E.1–E.3)
- E.1 – National Preservation Month: Sharon Whittaker, Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, accepted the proclamation and highlighted that the City of Round Rock received a 2024 Texas Historical Commission Award of Excellence in Media Achievement. She also noted that the Pioneer Days event at Old Settlers Park set a record attendance of 1,501 people. Judy Anderson, President of Round Rock Preservation, announced a month-long exhibit at the library and upcoming programs on May 13 and May 15, 2025.
- E.2 – Round Rock Pride Month: Richard (no last name given) accepted the proclamation and noted that the fourth annual Pride Festival is scheduled for June 7, 2025, at Centennial Plaza, with attendance nearing 5,000 in past years.
- E.3 – Air Quality Awareness Week (May 5–9, 2025): A staff member (Michael) presented slides on air quality monitoring, noting that an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 70 is the threshold for maintaining attainment. He stated that Round Rock operates an air quality monitoring station at the wastewater treatment plant and promotes initiatives such as an idling ordinance, tree planting, and fleet efficiency measures. Councilmember Montgomery read the official proclamation.
Resolutions (Items G.1–G.6)
- G.1 – Public Safety Training Center Phase 2 – Supplemental Agreement No. 2 with Brinkley Wigington Architects: Staff explained the increased scope, including larger restrooms and classrooms, an enhanced Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC), a police and fire shed, and a skills pad. The project is described as a legacy project for police and fire. Approved unanimously.
- G.2 – Griffith Remodel and Paseo Project – Change Order No. 1 with Braun and Butler Construction Inc.: Staff reported that 19 historical windows were compromised and will be replaced with upgraded windows that preserve the original look. The building is not officially historic but is older. Approved unanimously.
- G.3 – Interlocal Agreement with the City of Georgetown for electrical facility encroachment into a Round Rock waterline easement: Georgetown will install an electrical line under a critical 36-inch water line, with an encasement pipe to protect the water infrastructure. No disruption to water service is expected. Approved unanimously.
- G.4 – Amended and Restated Master Contract for the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA): Staff noted that the original 2008 contract had seven amendments; this restated document consolidates them into a single agreement clarifying capacity ownership among Cedar Park, Leander, and Round Rock. The BCRUA board previously approved it. Approved unanimously.
- G.5 – Amended Bylaws for the BCRUA: Updates include aligning board member terms (two-year terms starting simultaneously), formalizing the role of general counsel (Steve Sheets), and clarifying that capital items over $500,000 in the annual budget need only BCRUA board approval, not approval from all three cities. Approved unanimously.
- G.6 – Supplemental Contract No. 4 with Walker Partners for BCRUA Phase 2A Water Treatment Plant Expansion: The expansion will add 20 million gallons per day of capacity, shared between Leander (52%) and Round Rock (47%). Round Rock’s share of the contract is $3.8 million. Construction is expected to be complete before summer 2028, aligning with the deep water intake project. Approved unanimously.
Ordinances (Items H.1–H.2)
- H.1 – Speed Zone on Kenney Fort Boulevard (First Reading): Staff presented a study using the 85th percentile method. Observed speeds ranged from 53 to 60 mph, so the recommended speed limit is 55 mph from SH 45 to Forest Creek Drive. The road was opened December 6, 2024, without a set limit. Approved unanimously (first reading). A second reading will be required.
- H.2 – Youth Recreation Program Standards of Care (First Reading): Staff explained that the ordinance updates and simplifies the existing standards to comply with Texas Human Resources Code § 42.041(b)(14). The new standards maintain or improve adult-to-child ratios and will be acknowledged by parents during registration. Council confirmed that standards are not loosened. A public hearing was opened and closed with no testimony. The ordinance was approved unanimously on first reading, and a motion to dispense with the second reading was also approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All proclamations were adopted unanimously.
- All consent agenda items (F.1–F.6) were approved by a single vote.
- All resolutions (G.1–G.6) were approved unanimously.
- Ordinance H.1 (speed zone) passed on first reading unanimously; second reading scheduled.
- Ordinance H.2 (youth recreation standards) passed on first reading unanimously and the second reading was dispensed with by unanimous vote.
- Councilmembers expressed congratulations to Councilmember Montgomery and Councilmember Flores on their re-elections, wished Councilmember Lee well at her award ceremony, and extended Mother’s Day wishes.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Tonight's invitation will be given by Brother Rob Porter from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints Round Rock Congregation. Thank you for being here. Heavenly Father, we are grateful for this opportunity we have this evening to come together as a community to come to this city council meeting. We're thankful, especially to live in a city and in a country where we are allowed and able to assemble and to speak freely and to share our opinions to move together and forward as a community. We're thankful for the community that we live in for the peace that we feel and experience here in this community. We're thankful for the opportunity we have to connect with each other as neighbors and friends and to live in a place where our children can feel safe to move forward towards their potential. We are grateful also for our local government and our local leaders, grateful for the members that serve on this city council for their willingness to give of their time and their talents to better our community to help move us in a direction that will continue to help us feel progression in our personal lives. We ask you to bless them, the members of the city council as we begin this meeting this evening, that they will feel clarity in their thoughts, that they will understand the messages that are shared, and that they will come to uh clear, peaceful resolution on the issues that are discussed and asking to bless also all those that will share thoughts and um ideas this evening that they will feel confident in the messages that they share and that there will be understanding both directions so that we can continue to move forward. We ask thee also to continue to bless our community that we live in. Bless us that as we serve each other and strive to serve thee, that we will be kinder to each other, that we will listen more, that we will be more tolerant and less judgmental and be more open to those around us, and ask thee to bless us each that we will look for ways that we can serve in our community to help each member move forward. We ask you also, especially to bless those in our community that struggle and that are struggling currently with mental or emotional or physical ailments, that they will find healing, that they will find hope, and that they will find and have the resources they need to have that healing occur in their lives. We're especially thankful for the for thy son for uh our Savior Jesus Christ and for his atonement in our lives and for the hope that it brings to our daily lives, and we pray these things in his name, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Thank you. All right, I'll call the uh city council mate, six o'clock, city councilman to order and please call the row, Mayor Morgan, here Mayor Pro Tim Stevens, Councilmember Lee, Councilmember Floors, Councilmember Fleming here, Councilmember Ortega here, Councilmember Montgomery here, and Councilmember Lee is uh out tonight because she's in Austin up for our a an award. Uh, and so we told her that she needed to be there then uh rather than the meeting here. So uh we wish her the best on that. All right. Pledges of allegiance. We have a pack six five three here. So come right here and stand. So if you'll stand with me, yep, right there. We're gonna raise the flag. There you go. Hold on a second. We're gonna wait till you're ready. Start it. Under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Now the Texas flag. So whenever you're ready, honor the Texas flag. Pledge allegiance to the Texas round state under God, running. Thank y'all. Thank you. Keep up doing all the work that you're doing in the community. All right, citizen communication, any citizen wish to speak during citizen communication card and item on or off the agenda may do so after completing the required registration card. All comments must be no more than three minutes and link per section 2-26B5 of the Round Rock Code of Ordinances 2018 edition. Any comments regarding items not on the post agenda may not be discussed or responded to by the city council for state law. Anybody no cards? Anybody here to speak? All right. Proclamation, staff recognition of special presentations. E1, consider proclaiming May 2025 as National Preservation Month in the City of Round Rock. So whoever wants to come up to the front, I will read. All right, whereas the National Preservation Act passed in 1966 and the National Trust for Historic Preservation has declared May as National Preservation Month, and whereas the National Trust for Historic Preservation was created 75 years ago in 1950. And whereas the National Trust for Historic Preservation's theme for National Preservation Month 2025 is the power of place. And whereas the City of Round Rock adopted its historic preservation ordinance 46 years ago in 1979. And Round Rock's Historic Preservation Commission and City Planners work daily to implement the city's historic preservation programs. And whereas the City of Round Rock is dedicated to preserving its history and historic landmarks.
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