Round Rock City Council Meeting Summary – August 14, 2025
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Round Rock City Council Meeting – August 14, 2025
The Round Rock City Council met on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included citizen comments, multiple proclamations and recognitions, a library department update, and unanimous approval of a lengthy consent agenda and numerous resolutions. Key actions included setting a maximum property tax rate of 37.2 cents per $100 valuation, approving the purchase of land for Fire Station No. 11, granting two alcohol variances for a Georgian restaurant and store, advancing the Old Settlers Buildout project, and amending a water service agreement to help Liberty Hill.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the July 24, 2025, City Council meeting.
- Authorized an agreement with Genuine Parts Company for auto parts.
- Issued a purchase order to Smith Pump Company for a sludge pump at the Brushy Creek East Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- Authorized Supplement Agreement No. 2 with Valley View Consulting for investment advisory services. (All consent items passed unanimously by roll call vote.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jamie Martinez (resident, 4499 Miraloop): Described the death of two Doberman puppies purchased from Forever Pets at the Round Rock Outlet Mall. She alleged the store sold sick dogs, violated city pet store ordinances (e.g., sourcing from breeders outside Williamson/Travis counties), and ignored warranty claims. She requested a formal investigation and better enforcement.
- Francesca Cellino (representing Texas Humane Legislation Network, Austin resident): Cited city inspection reports documenting repeated violations at Forever Pets (dirty enclosures, signs of illness, inadequate climate control). Noted the store often pays fines without changing behavior. Urged the city to take complaints seriously and explore stronger local actions after a state-level ethical pet sales bill failed.
- John Moman (resident, 1701 Johnson Way): Expressed support for the Deepwood Drive Extension project but asked the council to protect the existing tree buffer along the creek to preserve privacy and reduce noise.
Discussion Items
- Proclamations (E.1 & E.2): Unanimously proclaimed August 2025 as “Gun Safety Awareness Month” and “Children’s Vision and Learning Month.” Representatives from Lock Arms for Life and Dr. Nancy spoke about the importance of safe gun storage and comprehensive eye exams for children.
- Mayor’s Special Recognition (F.1): Recognized the Round Rock High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC team for winning the national championship at the Junior ROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl. Over 3,500 programs competed; this was a first for the Marine Corps. The team was not originally in the top eight but got in when another school dropped out. Student members named and honored.
- Library Department Update (G.1): Michelle gave a presentation highlighting: summer reading program attendance up 7% from 2024; over 400,000 visitors annually; new “Library on the Go” outreach averaging 81 visitors per event; new services (legacy scanning cart, audio production desk, water-saving kits, pollinator observation kits); and the loss of three Friends of the Library volunteers. Plans for a bookmobile in 2026.
- Alcohol Variance for 1205 Round Rock Ave #115 (I.2): Applicant Davit Sinjiashvili requested a variance from the 300-foot school proximity rule to open a Georgian restaurant serving beer and wine. The measurement from property line to school property line is 73.3 feet, but door-to-door exceeds 300 feet. City staff noted Teji’s had a TABC permit since 2012 under old measuring rules. Council voted unanimously to grant the variance.
- Alcohol Variance for 1205 Round Rock Ave #113 (I.3): Applicant David Pipia requested a variance for a Georgian market selling beer and wine for off-premises consumption only. Same measurement issue. Council granted the variance unanimously.
- Old Settlers Buildout – Athletic Performance Center (I.4 & I.5): Staff presented the design for the athletic performance center and multipurpose complex. The project remains on schedule (opening April 2027). Features include a dropped track for wind protection, a connector walkway for yoga and stretching, and parking pushed outward to ease exit traffic. Unanimously approved the professional services agreement with PBK Sports and the Guaranteed Maximum Price amendment with SpawGlass for $[amount not specified in transcript, but vote was unanimous].
- Maximum Property Tax Rate for 2025 (I.6): Staff presented a proposed maximum tax rate of 37.2 cents per $100 valuation, an increase of 2.4 cents over the no-new-revenue rate. Of that, 1.5 cents is for voter-approved bond debt service; 0.9 cents for public safety (10 police officers, 6 firefighters). For a median home, this amounts to $7.88 per month. Council set the maximum rate and scheduled a public hearing for August 28, 2025.
- Quarterly Financial & Investment Report (I.7): Staff reported sales tax trending 5.6% above last August; property tax collections at $90M toward $91.2M budget; hotel occupancy tax revenues 3.6% below prior year; investment portfolio balance of $647.7 million with a yield of 4.225%. Unanimously accepted.
- Oncor Electric Delivery Agreement for Reuse Water Pump Station (I.8): Authorized $389,000 for a second electrical feed to the water reuse facility to improve resiliency. Unanimously approved.
- Brushy Creek MUD & Fern Bluff MUD FY 2026 Wastewater Budgets (I.9 & I.10): Approved allocated budgets for the two sub-regional customers. Flow charge, debt component, and administrative fee (3% annual increase) included. Unanimous.
- Flood Wall Study for East Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (I.11): Authorized $51,000 supplemental contract with AECOM for a flood wall feasibility study required by TCEQ permit. The 100-year floodplain encroaches on the plant. Unanimous.
- Stone Oak Pump Station Modifications (I.12): Awarded $1.9 million contract to Taknek, LLC for improvements to the water pressure plane serving Stone Oak and Mayfield Ranch. Tank rehabilitation replaced with inline pumps. Unanimous.
- Bob Bennett Complex Land Acquisition (I.13): Approved purchase of 2.989 acres from SPJST Lodge 187 for $1.4 million for public works facility expansion. Will be used for fuel station, wash rack, and second access. Unanimous.
- Second Amendment to Wholesale Water Service Agreement with Georgetown (I.14): Amended the agreement to wheel 250,000 gallons per day through Georgetown’s system to Liberty Hill for five years (expires Dec 31, 2030). Round Rock has sufficient capacity and will recover debt costs. Unanimous.
- Engineering Services for Street Projects (I.15 & I.16): Approved $300,000 contract for full-depth repair of Smyers Lane and CR 122; and $831,000 contract for the Deepwood Drive Extension (four-lane divided, bridge, trail connections). Unanimous.
- Right-of-Way for N. Mays Gap Road (I.17): Approved $133,000 for a 0.0460-acre parcel to complete the north-south arterial project. Unanimous.
- Code of Ethics Ordinance (J.1): First reading of amendments to Chapter 2 (Sections 2-116, 2-121, 2-122). No discussion; unanimously passed first reading.
- Civil Service Commission Reappointment (K.2): Unanimously confirmed the reappointment of Joanne Land to a term through 2028.
Key Outcomes
- All consent items and resolutions were approved unanimously by roll call vote (7-0).
- Two alcohol variances granted unanimously.
- Maximum property tax rate set at 37.2 cents per $100 valuation, with public hearing on August 28, 2025.
- Multiple capital projects and contracts approved for public safety, infrastructure, parks, and water systems.
- Council directed staff to protect tree buffers during the Deepwood Drive Extension and to examine the Smyers Lane/Wyoming Springs intersection.
- The meeting adjourned at approximately [time not specified, but after council comments].
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Tonight's invitation has been given by Bishop Tin Tim Kavanaugh of the Round Rock Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bishop. Our Father in Heaven, we're grateful to be gathered here today, and we like to express our gratitude to the men and women who are serving in this community, those who are here today, and those who are out about the time and the talent that they put into making this one of the best cities in uh if not the best city in America. We're grateful for the individuals and families who make up the community and all the service and kindness that they extend to each other. Our father, as we enter this new school year, we're express our gratitude to all the educators and administrators and making uh the rising generation, making it a comfortable experience, uh, teaching them, helping them to learn and to grow and to to prosper in all aspects of their lives. We ask a special blessing of protection on the the teachers, on the administrators, and especially on our youth and children uh this year as they they learn and grow that they'll be protected and uh they will have a good experience. Father, we recognize that there's many in our community who are suffering, who have uh financial struggles and trials, who are emotionally in pain, who have physical illness. We ask a special blessing on those uh members of our community that they will be comforted, that they'll have peace, and that us as community members, as neighbors, as friends, as family members, that we'll find opportunities to lift and to support them and to help them in their trials and um struggles. We're grateful to be here today. We're grateful for those who have come to be here and to participate and those who are being recognized and ask thee to bless them and their families, and we bless that thy guidance will be here as this issues and decisions are made that will be able to uh make those that are best for the community and all people here. And we pray for these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Thank you. Bran, your heastor brought his daughter, and uh I hope you like the stuff that we got you. Thanks for being here as well. All right, I'll call the six o'clock city councilman to order. And please call the roll. Mayor Morgan here, Mayor Pro Tim Stevens here, Councilmember Lee here, Councilmember Flores, Councilmember Fleming. Here, Councilmember Ortega here, Councilmember Montgomery. Here. All right, I'm gonna ask PAC 404 to come up and lead the pledges if you'll stand with me. Y'all come staying right here. Right there. There you go. All right, we're ready when you are. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. Now the Texas way on Texas flag. Pledge allegiance to see Texas, one state under God, on and thank you, boys. Keep staying involved. Thank you. All right. Citizen Communication. Any citizen wish to speak during citizen communication regarding not an 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 linked per section 2-26b5 of the Round Rock Code of Ordinances 2018 edition. Any comments regarding items not on the postage gym may not be discussed or responded to by the city council per state law. I have three cards. When I call your name, please come down and state your name and uh address for the record. Uh and please keep your comments to three minutes. There'll be a warning light here that will let you know. Uh, first up uh is Jamie Martinez or James Martinez. Jamie. Thank you. Sorry about that. No worries. A different study. Welcome. Thank you. I seem a little nervous because I am. No, don't be nervous. No one's gonna do anything or say anything, I promise you.
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