Round Rock City Council Meeting - May 22, 2025

The Round Rock City Council met on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. Mayor Craig Morgan presided, with Mayor Pro Tem Kristin Stevens and Councilmembers Michelle Ly (Place 1), Rene Flores (Place 2), Melissa Fleming (Place 3), Frank Ortega (Place 4), and Hilda Montgomery (Place 6) present. The meeting began with invocations, pledges of allegiance, and the administration of oaths of office to newly elected Councilmember Rene Flores (Place 2) and re-elected Councilmember Hilda Montgomery (Place 6). Both councilmembers gave brief remarks thanking supporters and fellow council members. The remaining agenda consisted of routine consent items, seven resolutions, two ordinances, and council comments.

Consent Calendar

The City Council approved the following consent agenda items unanimously (7-0) with one motion:

• F.1: Approval of minutes from the May 8, 2025 City Council meeting.
• F.2: Resolution authorizing an Engagement Letter with Whitley Penn, LLP for the 2025 financial and compliance audit.
• F.3: Resolution authorizing an Agreement with Mechanical & Process Systems, LLC for HVAC job contracting services.
• F.4: Resolution authorizing Supplemental Agreement No. 1 with Preferred Technologies, LLC for surveillance, security, and monitoring products.
• F.5: Resolution authorizing Supplemental Agreement No. 2 with Austin Structured Cabling, LLC for fiber optic cabling.
• F.6: Resolution authorizing Quantity Adjustment/Change Order No. 1 with Cutler Repaving, Inc. for the 2023 Arterial Street Maintenance Program.
• F.7: Resolution authorizing Supplemental Contract No. 1 with Carollo Engineers, Inc. for the Raw Water Treatment Improvements Project.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public signed up to speak. No citizen communication was received.

Discussion Items

G.1 – Greenlawn Boulevard Project Construction Contract City Engineer Michael presented a resolution to award a $13.9 million construction contract to Austin Engineering Co., Inc. for the Greenlawn Boulevard Project, which will widen the road from four to six lanes from State Highway 45 to the frontage road. The project includes drainage work coordinated with FEMA and is expected to be completed by December 2026, aligning with the District's schedule. Twelve bids were received, with pricing favorable. The resolution passed unanimously on a motion by Councilmember Ortega, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Stevens.

G.2 – Chisholm Trail South Improvements (Old Town) – Supplemental Contract No. 5 A resolution to authorize a $145,000 supplemental contract with Freese and Nichols, Inc. for design work on an at-grade sidewalk and extended culverts on the west side of the bridge over the creek. This work is adjacent to an ongoing construction project awarded to Cash Construction. The intent is to potentially add this work to the Cash contract if timing allows, with a demobilization clause if not completed by November 1st to avoid holiday traffic. Approved unanimously.

G.3 – Rejection of Bid for Water Treatment Plant Miscellaneous Improvements Staff recommended rejecting the sole bid from Prota, Inc. for $3.2 million, which was $1 million over the engineering estimate of $2.2 million. The city plans to repackage the project into smaller, more prioritized components and rebid to attract more competition. The existing water plant (last upgraded in 2005) needs various upgrades, but none are emergencies. The resolution passed unanimously.

G.6 – Recycle Center Master Plan – Phase 1 Engineering Contract A resolution to authorize a $249,500 contract with Parkhill for design work on Phase 1 of the Recycle Center Master Plan. Phase 1 includes a left-turn lane entrance from Deepwood Drive, relocation of the check-in station (moving it back to reduce traffic backups), moving brush piles to the rear, and constructing concrete pads for brush dumping and mulch pickup. The city applied for an EPA grant of up to $5 million (decision expected August/September). Future phases will add drive-through recycling aisles and a permanent household hazardous waste (HHW) facility. Currently, HHW is available daily from noon to 3 p.m. on a pilot basis; usage has increased. The resolution passed unanimously.

H.1 – Speed Zone Ordinance on Kenney Fort Boulevard (Second Reading) An ordinance amending Chapter 42 to set the speed limit at 55 miles per hour on Kenney Fort Boulevard from Forest Creek Drive to the SH 45 frontage roads, based on a traffic study. No new discussion; adopted unanimously on second reading.

G.5 – Bob Bennett Building Additional Phases – Amendment to Jacobs Engineering Agreement Staff presented a deductive change order to Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. to focus on Phase 2 of the Bob Bennett complex master plan, which includes moving transportation and fleet shops forward. Phase 2 will house neighborhood services; the building is designed for 20-year needs. A future Phase 5 may add a wash rack and fuel island. The amendment passed unanimously.

G.7 – Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority Grant Application (2025-26) A resolution authorizing the city manager to apply for a $514,000 grant (with a 20% city match of ~$102,800) from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Funds will be used for additional license plate readers, drone-as-first-responder infrastructure, traffic cameras, and training. Chief Banks noted the success of existing equipment in investigations. Approved unanimously.

G.4 – Quarterly Financial and Investment Report (Quarter Ended March 31, 2025) Finance Director Kevin presented the report. Key data: Round Rock unemployment rate 3.3% (March); local unemployment claims up 7.4% year-over-year, attributed partly to January layoffs. Consumer confidence declined for the fifth consecutive month, reaching lows not seen since March/April 2020. However, real economic indicators remain stable: U.S. CPI at 2.3% (April), lowest since February 2021. Citywide sales tax receipts up 2.1% year-over-year; general fund sales tax (excluding Dell) up 3.5%; Dell receipts up 24%. Property tax collections at 98.2% of budget. General fund revenues grew in nearly all categories, with license and permit fees up ~70% due to building permits and subdivision fees, and grant revenue up over 100% from reimbursements for public safety deployments. Hotel occupancy tax and venue tax revenues (net of incentives) down 6.3% from prior year; occupancy rates fell from 70% to 65% (December 2024 vs. December 2023). The city’s investment portfolio balance was $579 million, with a portfolio yield of 4.42%, above the benchmark of 4.04%. Weighted average maturity was 189 days (limit 540 days). The resolution accepting the report passed unanimously.

H.2 – Amendment No. 1 to FY 2024-2025 Operating Budget (First Reading) Two items: (1) recognizing grant revenues and expenditures for the first year of the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Grant (license plate readers); (2) adding one new Sports Facility Supervisor position at the Multipurpose Complex (funded by the Multipurpose Complex Fund) to allow an existing shared supervisor to move full-time to the expanded Sports Center. Approved unanimously on first reading; requires a second reading.

Council Comments and Adjournment

Councilmembers congratulated each other, reminded citizens of the Memorial Day ceremony on May 26, and thanked city staff. The meeting concluded with a goodnight to Round Rock.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items (F.1–F.7) approved unanimously.
• Resolutions G.1, G.2, G.6, G.5, G.7, G.4, and G.3 (bid rejection) all passed unanimously (7-0).
• Ordinance H.1 (speed zone) adopted unanimously on second reading.
• Ordinance H.2 (budget amendment) approved on first reading (unanimous).
• Council authorized submission of the MVCPA grant application (G.7) and rejected the water plant bid (G.3).
• The city will rebid the water treatment improvements project after repackaging.
• The Recycle Center Master Plan Phase 1 design contract awarded; EPA grant application pending.