Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Round Rock City Council Meeting Summary - August 28, 2025

City Council — Thursday, August 28, 2025

BodyRound Rock, Texas

SessionCity Council

DateThursday, August 28, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:25:22

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:02

Good evening.

0:03

Tonight's invitation will be given by Round Rock Fire Department chaplain chaplain John Patterson.

0:13

Good evening.

0:14

Good evening.

0:15

Thank you for what you do.

0:17

Thank you for what you all do.

0:21

Good evening, Mayor, Council members, elected officials, significant and distinguished VIPs and fine citizens of Round Rock.

0:32

My name is John Patterson.

0:34

Not only am I a citizen of Round Rock, I also uh pastor over at City View Bible Church, and I also am the chaplain here for the Round Rock Fire Department.

0:42

Tonight's my honor to lead us in an invocation.

0:45

I thought I'd start off with stating that the Round Rock Fire Department's mission states not for self, but for others.

0:52

That's actually uh from the scriptures, Philippians 2, 3 through 4.

0:56

It states, do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourselves.

1:03

Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interest of others.

1:09

A very fitting mission statement for our fire department.

1:13

Let us pray.

1:16

Dear Lord, we thank you so much for gathering us here tonight.

1:19

Father, we pray specifically for our city and the fine citizens of Round Rock.

1:25

Father, would you grant them continued neighborly benevolence and goodwill towards one another so that the city of Round Rock continues to be known as a great place to live, work, and play?

1:39

Father, I want to lift up our city council.

1:42

Would you grant them unified wisdom to govern in truth and love, seeking the long-term benefit and continued growth and prosperity of our great city?

1:52

Lord, I also want to lift up Chief Glazier and Chief Banks, along with all of our department heads and leadership.

1:59

Would you grant them courage to lead by example and with conviction of duty and humility as servant leaders?

2:06

Furthermore, Father, we want to lift up our first responders and our emergency management personnel.

2:13

I do pray, Father, that you would grant them resiliency and fortitude to humbly and sacrificially serve with excellence and devotion of their profession.

2:23

May we excel in honoring our emergency management personnel each August by the way we promote awareness and share in our appreciation for what they do.

2:34

And last but not least, we ask for your sovereign will to be accomplished by blessing us with your protection, your peace, your prosperity, and your presence in every aspect of our city as we continue to seek to honor you above all else.

2:49

We ask this in your name.

2:51

Amen.

2:52

Amen.

2:53

Thank you.

2:53

Tell that uh pastor of yours I said hello, we said hello.

2:58

I'll call six o'clock city council meeting to order, and please call the roll Mayor Morgan.

3:06

Here, Mayor Pro Tim Stevens here, Councilmember Lee?

3:10

Here, Councilmember Flores.

3:11

Here, Councilmember Fleming.

3:13

Here.

3:13

Councilmember Ortega.

3:15

Here.

3:15

Councilmember Montgomery.

3:18

All right.

3:18

As I mentioned on Tuesday morning, Councilmember Montgomery is with her mother in uh Chicago.

3:23

So all right, if you will stand with me for the pledges.

3:29

Pledge allegiance to the flag.

3:44

Honor the Texas flag.

3:46

Pledge allegiance to thee, Texas.

3:49

One state, I'm a guide, one individual.

3:58

Thank you.

3:58

Citizen Communication.

4:00

Any citizen wish to speak during citizen communication regarding item on or off the agenda may do so after completing the required registration card.

4:07

All comments must be no more than three minutes in length per section 2-2-6.

4:11

B5 of the Round Rock Code of Ordinances 2018 edition.

4:14

Any comments regarding items not on the items not on the post agenda may not be discussed or responded to by the city council per state law.

4:23

I have one card.

4:27

Come on up.

4:29

Hello.

4:30

Good evening.

4:31

And thank you for the goodies you gave us.

4:34

My pleasure.

4:35

Appreciate it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Engagement██████████████████18%

Technology and Innovation████████████12%

Procedural███████████11%

Engineering And Infrastructure█████████9%

Planned Unit Development█████████9%

Budget Equity Analysis█████████9%

Economic Development███████7%

Emergency Management██████6%

Arts And Culture█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Round Rock City Council Meeting Summary - August 28, 2025

The Round Rock City Council met on Thursday, August 28, 2025, starting at 6:00 PM. All agenda items were approved unanimously, including the FY 2026 budget, property tax rate, and several development agreements. One citizen spoke during public comments. The council recessed to executive session at 7:27 PM and reconvened at 7:50 PM, taking no action.

Consent Calendar

Approved minutes from the August 14, 2025 city council meeting.
Approved ordinance amendment to the city's code of ethics (second reading).
Approved resolution authorizing purchase order with Motorola Solutions for police radios.
Approved resolution adopting financial policies for FY 2025-26.
Approved resolutions authorizing the city manager severance agreement and amendment to the employment agreement with Brooks Bennett.
Approved supplemental agreement with AutoZone for automotive parts.
Approved agreement with Randy C. Kane, attorney at law, for professional lobbying services.
Approved supplemental contract with Tetra Tech for County Road 112 improvements.
Approved change order with Lone Star Site Work LLC for the East Main Street Gaps Sidewalk Project.

Public Comments & Testimony

The owner of SOS Hot Dogs requested city council approval to operate a New York-style food cart on Main Street, selling primarily during lunch hours Monday through Wednesday. He stated he had spoken to nearby businesses who were supportive, and noted that about 80% of his customers at the Round Rock Farmers Market asked where else they could buy his hot dogs in Round Rock. He emphasized the cart would have no liquor or loud music.

Proclamation

The council proclaimed August 2025 as Emergency Management Awareness and Appreciation Month. Chief Sherry (emergency management) expressed appreciation and highlighted the importance of preparedness and regional collaboration.

Staff Presentation: Communications and Marketing

Director Sarah presented a department update highlighting: 179 arts and cultural events, 66 public art pieces downtown, over 20 million social media views and 500,000 engagements in the last year, and 2.6 million website sessions. The department received multiple TAMIA state awards and developed a new "Random Acts of Fun" downtown series. She introduced the FY 2026 budget video series, "Round Rock's Budget Hot Takes."

Discussion Items and Actions

H1 - Bob Bennett Complex GMP (Hensel Phelps): Approved the guaranteed maximum price of $45,446,821 for phases two and three. Construction begins September, phase two completion December 2026.
H2 - Business Accelerator Program: Approved third amendment with the Round Rock Chamber and Type B corporation, providing $400,000 annually for three years ($1.2 million total) to partner with an existing accelerator. The partner will hire a full-time staff member, run two seven-week cohorts, and open an office at 409 West Main Street. The mayor noted the funding is sales tax, not property tax.
H3 - Dell Enterprise Project: Approved nomination of Dell Inc.'s facility at 501 Dell Way as a qualified enterprise project. Dell commits to $25 million in improvements and 35% of new hires from targeted groups, making it eligible for up to $1.25 million in state sales tax refunds.
H4 - SH 130 Wastewater Extension: Approved $316,000 engineering contract with HR Green for design of 1,800 linear feet of 18-inch gravity wastewater main.
H5 - County Road 118 Wastewater Line: Approved $285,000 supplemental agreement with Westwood Professional Services.
H6 - McNeil Road Right Turn Lane: Approved $453,899 construction contract with Aaron Concrete Contractors for a right turn lane at Round Rock West Drive.
H7, H8, I1 - 3000 Sunrise Road Affordable Housing: Approved development agreement, resolution of no objection to housing tax credits, and PUD zoning (first reading) for a 220-unit affordable apartment complex on 6.04 acres. Units will serve renters earning up to 60% of area median income, with rents restricted for at least 30 years. The developer stated the building will be one five-story structure with a structured parking garage and that residents can remain until earning 140% AMI. The planning and zoning commission had recommended approval unanimously; no public speakers testified. The council also voted to dispense with the second reading.

Budget and Tax Rate Public Hearings (I2, I3)

Presented the FY 2026 proposed budget of $789.7 million, with a general fund of $189 million and utility fund of $133 million. It includes 29.5 new full-time equivalent staff and a proposed property tax rate of 37.2 cents per $100 valuation, a 6.9% increase over the no-new-revenue rate. The median home value in Round Rock is $395,240, resulting in an estimated city tax bill of $1,470 annually ($123 per month). The increase of $7.88 per month funds public safety and voter-approved bond projects.
Both public hearings had no speakers. The council approved the budget ordinance and the property tax rate (0.372000) on first reading; final adoption is scheduled for September 11, 2025.

Hotel Occupancy Tax Ordinance (I4)

Approved ordinance amendments aligning with a new online payment portal for hotel and short-term rental occupancy taxes launching in early October. The ordinance establishes a $35 initial registration fee and $25 annual renewal fee, waives the first year's fee for current operators, includes a 60-day grace period for non-compliant operators starting October 1, and limits the administrative offset to remittances under $25,000 per month.

Key Outcomes

All votes were unanimous (6-0; Councilmember Montgomery was absent, with her mother in Chicago).
The council recessed to executive session at 7:27 PM to discuss potential litigation regarding signage at 16420 RM 620 and reconvened at 7:50 PM with no action taken.
Final budget and tax rate adoption will occur at the September 11, 2025 city council meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Tonight's invitation will be given by Round Rock Fire Department chaplain chaplain John Patterson. Good evening. Good evening. Thank you for what you do. Thank you for what you all do. Good evening, Mayor, Council members, elected officials, significant and distinguished VIPs and fine citizens of Round Rock. My name is John Patterson. Not only am I a citizen of Round Rock, I also uh pastor over at City View Bible Church, and I also am the chaplain here for the Round Rock Fire Department. Tonight's my honor to lead us in an invocation. I thought I'd start off with stating that the Round Rock Fire Department's mission states not for self, but for others. That's actually uh from the scriptures, Philippians 2, 3 through 4. It states, do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interest, but also to the interest of others. A very fitting mission statement for our fire department. Let us pray. Dear Lord, we thank you so much for gathering us here tonight. Father, we pray specifically for our city and the fine citizens of Round Rock. Father, would you grant them continued neighborly benevolence and goodwill towards one another so that the city of Round Rock continues to be known as a great place to live, work, and play? Father, I want to lift up our city council. Would you grant them unified wisdom to govern in truth and love, seeking the long-term benefit and continued growth and prosperity of our great city? Lord, I also want to lift up Chief Glazier and Chief Banks, along with all of our department heads and leadership. Would you grant them courage to lead by example and with conviction of duty and humility as servant leaders? Furthermore, Father, we want to lift up our first responders and our emergency management personnel. I do pray, Father, that you would grant them resiliency and fortitude to humbly and sacrificially serve with excellence and devotion of their profession. May we excel in honoring our emergency management personnel each August by the way we promote awareness and share in our appreciation for what they do. And last but not least, we ask for your sovereign will to be accomplished by blessing us with your protection, your peace, your prosperity, and your presence in every aspect of our city as we continue to seek to honor you above all else. We ask this in your name. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Tell that uh pastor of yours I said hello, we said hello. I'll call six o'clock city council meeting to order, and please call the roll Mayor Morgan. Here, Mayor Pro Tim Stevens here, Councilmember Lee? Here, Councilmember Flores. Here, Councilmember Fleming. Here. Councilmember Ortega. Here. Councilmember Montgomery. All right. As I mentioned on Tuesday morning, Councilmember Montgomery is with her mother in uh Chicago. So all right, if you will stand with me for the pledges. Pledge allegiance to the flag. Honor the Texas flag. Pledge allegiance to thee, Texas. One state, I'm a guide, one individual. Thank you. Citizen Communication. Any citizen wish to speak during citizen communication regarding item on or off the agenda may do so after completing the required registration card.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com