OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Round Rock, Texas/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

City Council Meeting - January 8, 2026

City Council — Thursday, January 8, 2026
BodyRound Rock, Texas
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, January 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:09:34

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

Good evening.

0:03

Tonight's invitation will be given by Sharem Brown Taylor of St.

0:06

Paul AME Church.

0:08

Pastor, thank you for coming.

0:11

Thank you.

0:12

Shall we pray?

0:14

Father God, we thank you for this day.

0:17

We thank you for all the blessings that you've given us.

0:20

Thank you for just allowing us to see a new year.

0:23

Pray right now that you would bless our mayor and our city council, each and every one of them.

0:29

We pray that you would give them the wisdom that they need to govern our city.

0:34

We thank you for all that they do for each and every one of us in the community.

0:39

These and other blessings we ask in your son Jesus' name, amen.

0:43

Amen.

0:44

Thank you.

0:44

I'll call six clock seat council meeting order.

0:47

And please call the roll.

0:51

Mayor Pro Tim Stevens.

0:53

Here.

0:53

Councilmember Lee.

0:54

Here.

0:55

Councilmember Flores.

0:56

Here.

0:57

Councilmember Fleming.

0:58

Here.

0:58

Councilmember Ortega?

1:00

Here.

1:00

Councilmember Montgomery.

1:02

Here.

1:02

All right.

1:02

If you'll stand me for the pledges, if you're able.

1:22

Honor the Texas flag.

1:24

I pledge allegiance to the Texas.

1:27

One state under God.

1:29

One individual.

1:44

All right.

1:45

Citizen Communication.

1:54

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

2:00

All comments must be no more than three minutes in length per section 2-26.

2:04

B5 of the Round Rock Code of Ordinances 2018 edition.

2:07

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

2:18

Those will get called when we're at that point.

2:24

Same rules, three minutes.

2:32

Since it's an agenda item, we ask that after you read your statement, you give us a chance if we have any questions for you, since it's an agenda item.

2:41

So be prepared because it does happen.

2:47

All right.

2:57

Hi, Denise Cullen and Johnston, 4013 St.

3:01

Peter Street, Saledo, Texas, 76571.

3:05

I am here on behalf of Legends Village Homeowners Association at 2500 St.

3:11

James Place, Round Rock, Texas.

3:13

I am the community manager for their HOA, and they asked that I come and represent the homeowners today in regards to their concerns about the intersection of Chandler Creek and Kenny Fort.

3:26

There have been numerous accidents in at that particular intersection ever since it was redone.

3:34

There's a very strange turn trying to get onto Chandler Creek from Kenny Fort with a stop sign and going out of Chandler Creek onto Kenny Fork if you are turning left, which is the northeast direction.

3:50

Um you actually have to pull out and stop as a stop sign to continue on, and there are cars that block traffic.

3:59

And in my short time in being there, there have been 18 accidents since March.

4:05

There have been 36 in the last year.

4:09

And I included some photos that the board asked that I include just to show the resources that are pulled from our city first responders for a very small fender bender.

4:21

There were seven police officers, two fire trucks, and an ambulance for a non-transport accident.

4:28

So they just want this to be brought before the council.

4:32

It's been brought before in prior years by homeowners, and they just ask that I come representing the entire community to let you know that this is a concern and if maybe a study could be done to see if something could be done with a light or some sort of traffic calming in that area.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Development Code█████████████████████████25%
Transportation Safety██████████████14%
Community Engagement█████████████13%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████████12%
Procedural████████8%
Planned Unit Development████████8%
Public Engagement███████7%
Public Safety███████7%
Energy Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

City Council Meeting - January 8, 2026

On January 8, 2026, the Round Rock City Council met to consider a range of routine and significant items, including proclamations, consent agenda approvals, multiple resolutions for infrastructure projects and grant applications, and a contentious set of ordinances and a resolution related to the annexation and commercial rezoning of approximately 9.41 acres at the northwest intersection of Gattis School Road and South Kenney Fort Boulevard. The meeting featured extensive public testimony from residents opposing the commercial development, expressing concerns about traffic safety, pedestrian safety for schoolchildren, environmental impact, and neighborhood character. After deliberation, the council unanimously approved all agenda items.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes from the December 18, 2025 City Council meeting.
  • Authorized a contract for engineering services with Kasberg, Patrick & Associates, LP for the Cycle 4 - Basins 3 & 4 Wastewater Collection System Rehabilitation Project.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Citizen Communication: Denise Cullen (Legends Village HOA community manager) reported 36 accidents in the past year at the Chandler Creek and Kenney Fort intersection, with 18 since March, and requested a traffic study.
  • Public Hearing on H2-H4 (Rezoning/Annexation): Over a dozen residents spoke in opposition to the C2 (Local Commercial) rezoning of the Gattis School Road property. Concerns included:
    • Increased traffic congestion and safety risks, especially near four schools (Cedar Ridge High, Ridgeview Middle, Gattis Elementary, and another elementary).
    • Pedestrian danger for students walking to school, with reports of near misses and illegal U-turns.
    • Environmental impacts on floodplain, wildlife (coyotes), and drainage.
    • Permanent nature of commercial zoning and lack of binding restrictions beyond developer promises.
    • Compatibility with established residential neighborhoods (Round Rock Ranch Enclave, Northfields).
    • One resident expressed preference for commercial over townhomes due to traffic patterns; another asked for more data before decisions.
    • A high school student testified about unsafe walking conditions.

Discussion Items

  • G1 – Electric Power Supply Contracts: Staff explained the need to delegate authority to the City Manager to quickly secure favorable rates in the volatile deregulated market. The city’s current locked-in rate (~3.8¢/kWh) is well below current market rates (~6¢/kWh). Council approved unanimously.
  • G3 – Chandler Creek Wastewater Upsizing: Supplemental contract with Kimley-Horn for $243,540 to upsize a sewer line for growth capacity.
  • G4 – Red Bud North Change Order: $367,000 change order; $236,000 attributed to an engineering error covered by the engineer, remainder for ancillary items.
  • G5 – Greenlawn Boulevard Change Order: $145,000 reduction (from $13.9M to $13.8M) due to plan adjustments; construction to mobilize next week.
  • G6 – Forest Creek Drive Left Turn Lane: $172,000 contract with Lone Star Sitework, LLC to add a left-turn lane for new townhomes.
  • G7-G10 – CAMPO Grant Applications: Four resolutions to apply for federal Surface Transportation Block Grants totaling ~$55 million for North Mays Street widening, Deep Wood Drive extension, and Kenney Fort Boulevard Segments 5 and 6.
  • G11 – Arterial Street Maintenance Change Order: $355,379.82 final change order to close out the project.
  • G12 – Residential Street Maintenance Change Order: Reduction of $435,960, bringing total to $4,767,023.
  • G13 – Bus and Bus Facilities Grant: Resolution to apply for FY25 FTA 5339(a) funding (~$101,000) for transit center upgrades.
  • H1 – Temporary Construction Speed Zone on Greenlawn Boulevard: Ordinance to reduce speed limit to 35 MPH during Greenlawn Boulevard widening construction.
  • G2 & H2-H4 – Gattis School Road Annexation and Rezoning:
    • Staff and applicant (Ethan Harwell, Kimley-Horn; MD, Texas Sparks Development) presented the proposal: a 9.41-acre tract (2.19 acres to be annexed, 7.22 acres already in city) to be rezoned to C-2 (Local Commercial). The conceptual plan includes ~40,000 sq ft of retail/office space in four buildings, with buildings at least 200 feet from adjacent homes. The developer stated no gas stations, bars, or drive-throughs are planned, and that deed restrictions would be recorded to enforce such limits.
    • Staff recommended approval, citing compatibility with the surrounding residential area (C-2 is low-intensity) and note that the property is constrained by floodplain (~4.5 developable acres). Future land use map permits neighborhood commercial at this location.
    • Council discussed traffic concerns, school pedestrian safety, floodplain analysis, and the enforceability of deed restrictions. The developer committed to keeping in touch with the HOA.
    • G2 (Service Agreement) passed 8-0.
    • H4 (Annexation) passed 8-0 (first reading and dispensed with second).
    • H2 (Original Zoning for 2.19 acres) passed 8-0 (first reading and dispensed with second).
    • H3 (Rezoning for 7.22 acres) passed 8-0 (first reading and dispensed with second).

Key Outcomes

  • All consent agenda items approved.
  • All resolutions (G1, G3-G13) approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance H1 (temporary speed zone) approved unanimously.
  • Resolution G2 (service agreement for property owners) approved 8-0.
  • Ordinance H4 (annexation of 2.19 acres) approved 8-0 on first reading; second reading dispensed with unanimously.
  • Ordinance H2 (original zoning to C-2 for 2.19 acres) approved 8-0 on first reading; second reading dispensed with unanimously.
  • Ordinance H3 (rezoning to C-2 for 7.22 acres) approved 8-0 on first reading; second reading dispensed with unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Tonight's invitation will be given by Sharem Brown Taylor of St. Paul AME Church. Pastor, thank you for coming. Thank you. Shall we pray? Father God, we thank you for this day. We thank you for all the blessings that you've given us. Thank you for just allowing us to see a new year. Pray right now that you would bless our mayor and our city council, each and every one of them. We pray that you would give them the wisdom that they need to govern our city. We thank you for all that they do for each and every one of us in the community. These and other blessings we ask in your son Jesus' name, amen. Amen. Thank you. I'll call six clock seat council meeting order. And please call the roll. Mayor Pro Tim Stevens. Here. Councilmember Lee. Here. Councilmember Flores. Here. Councilmember Fleming. Here. Councilmember Ortega? Here. Councilmember Montgomery. Here. All right. If you'll stand me for the pledges, if you're able. Honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the Texas. One state under God. One individual. All right. Citizen Communication. Any citizen wishing to speak during citizen communication regarding item on or off the agenda may do so after completing the required registration card. All comments must be no more than three minutes in length per section 2-26. B5 of the Round Rock Code of Ordinances 2018 edition. Any comments regarding items on the post agenda may not be discussed or responded to by the city council per state law. Those will get called when we're at that point. Same rules, three minutes. Since it's an agenda item, we ask that after you read your statement, you give us a chance if we have any questions for you, since it's an agenda item. So be prepared because it does happen. All right. Hi, Denise Cullen and Johnston, 4013 St. Peter Street, Saledo, Texas, 76571. I am here on behalf of Legends Village Homeowners Association at 2500 St. James Place, Round Rock, Texas.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com