Round Rock City Council Meeting – October 23, 2025

The Round Rock City Council met on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Council Chambers. The meeting included citizen communications, approval of a consent agenda, nine resolutions, and four ordinances related to downtown mixed-use zoning. A recess was taken at 7:30 PM and the meeting reconvened at 7:41 PM. The council heard extensive public testimony and debated the downtown zoning amendments before adopting them with modifications.

Consent Calendar

• E.1–E.3 approved unanimously: minutes from October 9, 2025; agreement with US Specialty Coatings for field marking supplies; second reading of garbage rate ordinance (Chapter 32 amendment).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jocelyn Zimmerly (Round Rock resident, founder of Wild Explorers Nature Collective) spoke in support of diversifying the Trails Master Plan to include more natural, soft-surface trails and preservation of open spaces, asking that the city formally protect natural areas from future development.
• Neha Kashyap Takur (founder of Idea USA) invited the council to attend the upcoming "Shadi Mubarak" Thanksgiving Fest, a mock South Asian wedding celebration promoting cultural inclusion.
• Peter Orr (Green Slopes neighborhood) expressed dissatisfaction with Republic Waste garbage service, describing missed pickups and poor customer service; he urged the city to intervene with the hauler.
• Gordon Petis (Heart of Round Rock Neighborhood Association president) reflected on the 12-year history of mixed-use zoning discussions, expressed cautious optimism, and noted that few new homes had been built in the flats.
• Ramsey Andrews (606 East Main Street) raised concerns about traffic impact analyses, parking generation studies, tree preservation, green roofs, and the size of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the MUL district.
• Mario Carline (205 East Myland, owner of multiple downtown properties) thanked staff for outreach, but requested that the prohibition on new single-family homes in MU2 be removed to preserve property rights for existing single-family lot owners.
• Frank Darr (502 Meadow Creek Circle) opposed allowing eight-story buildings along Mays Street and Round Rock Avenue, arguing that four to five stories would be more appropriate for parking and pedestrian scale.
• Estella Herrera (511 Lewis Street, lifelong resident) opposed most of the zoning changes, citing increased crime, water supply concerns, and the need to protect ancestral properties.
• Kathy Carter (Sits Pecan Avenue) asked that the bar prohibition process go through Planning and Zoning, suggested 70-hour weekly minimum access for privately owned public spaces (POPS), and urged the council not to prohibit new single-family homes in MU2.
• Jason Haskins (Round Rock native, architect, affordable housing advocate) spoke in favor of the mixed-use expansions and encouraged the city to adopt policies preserving affordability and supporting home maintenance for long-term residents.
• Leah Clark (405 Dove Haven) raised concerns about traffic congestion (especially on McNeil Road), lack of parking, and public safety implications of new POPS.
• Paul Barnett (owner of the service station at I-35 and Lee Street) requested an exception to the drive-through prohibition for his small parcel, arguing it could not support a tall building and would benefit from a fast-food restaurant use.
• Sean Talcock (214 N. Lampasas Street) asked about the Round Rock Donuts congestion and whether the city could encourage the business to purchase adjacent lots to alleviate stacking issues.

Discussion Items

• F.1 – Sports Center Expansion Change Order: Approved unanimously; change order with John King Construction for parking lot repairs, signage, and other close-out items using existing funds.
• F.2 – Reimbursement Resolution: Approved unanimously; $296.5 million resolution to allow the city to spend cash on capital projects and reimburse from future bond proceeds.
• F.3 – Oncor Rate Increase Denial: Approved unanimously; the city will join the Alliance of Oncor Cities to oppose the proposed 13% rate increase ($7/month for typical residential customer).
• F.4 – Behrens Ranch Mountain Bike Trail Contract: Approved unanimously; $833,155 contract with KOM Trails for 1.4-mile (red), 3.9-mile (green), and 0.6-mile (blue) trails plus a pump track, to be constructed in approximately nine months.
• F.5 – Athletic Performance Center Equipment: Approved unanimously; $925,000 agreement with Marathon Fitness for exercise equipment and installation for the new center opening in 2027.
• F.6 – Water Meter Replacement: Approved unanimously; 1,200 new meters and monitoring systems from HydroPro Solutions to replace failing units; 38,000 total meters in the city, currently 95% reading rate (goal 99%+).
• F.7 – Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority Budget: Approved unanimously; $11.2 million for FY26 (operating $2.5M, debt service $8.6M) for Round Rock's share.
• F.8 & F.9 – Downtown Sidewalk Furniture Program: Both approved unanimously; new program replaces per-piece fee ($25 + $5 per piece) with a flat $50 annual permit; existing licensees get a free transition if they apply by year-end.
• G.1 – Downtown Zoning Code Amendments: Extensive presentation and debate. Council heard public testimony and discussed:
  • Prohibition on new bars in MU1 (seven existing bars grandfathered, one entitlement preserved).
  • Height limits: up to 8 stories (110 ft) along North Mays and Round Rock Avenue corridors; up to 12 stories (160 ft) along I-35 frontage; 3-story limit east of Mays.
  • New building types (1–4) with design standards, tripartite design for taller buildings, and requirement for privately owned public spaces (POPS) for buildings 5–12 stories.
  • Prohibition of new single-family homes in MU2 (Council removed this prohibition by amendment – see Key Outcomes).
  • Prohibition of drive-throughs, game rooms, and vape/smoke shops.
• G.2 – Rezoning 66 parcels to MU2: Unanimously approved; includes properties along I-35, Mays, and Round Rock Avenue corridors.
• G.3 – Rezoning 40 parcels to MUL: Unanimously approved.
• G.4 – Rezoning 8 parcels to Open Space (OS): Unanimously approved.

Key Outcomes

• G.1 adopted as amended (7-0, Councilmember Ly abstained). Amendment removed the prohibition on new single-family homes in the MU2 district (both for new construction and existing homes). All other provisions in the ordinance were adopted. Second reading dispensed unanimously.
• G.2, G.3, G.4 adopted (7-0, Councilmember Ly abstained on G.2). Second readings dispensed for each.
• Resolutions F.1 through F.9 all passed unanimously (7-0).
• Quasi-judicial note: Councilmember Ly abstained from voting on G.1 and G.2 due to being a downtown business owner affected by the items.
• Next steps: Staff will prepare an infrastructure report for the December pre-retreat; the city will participate in the Oncor rate case at the Public Utility Commission (final decision expected April 2026); water meter replacement begins November 10, 2025 with door hangers distributed November 3.