Round Rock City Council Packet Briefing - April 21, 2026

The Round Rock City Council held a packet briefing on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 7:30 AM in the City Council Chambers, 221 East Main St., to review and discuss agenda items for the upcoming April 23, 2026 City Council meeting. Staff presented items involving parks and recreation fees, street maintenance and public works contracts, a QT annexation package, two major PUD amendments, and debt issuances. No members of the public spoke during citizen communication.

Citizen Communication

• No speakers signed up to address the Council.

Staff Briefings & Discussion Items

Proclamations and Consent-Related Items

• Historic Preservation Month and Air Quality Awareness Week proclamations are scheduled for the April 23 meeting.
• Staff updated the Council on the Heritage Trail West project litigation (agenda item F5): the contractor abandoned the project; the city hired Allensworth law firm, met the $100,000 threshold, and both parties have filed motions for summary judgment. A hearing is pending.

Parks and Recreation Fee Changes (Agenda Item G1)

• Staff recommended updating Appendix A fees for parks and recreation, noting the Rockin' River expansion is expected to open late next month.
• Proposed fee changes include: Rockin' River daily admissions increasing by $6 (to $18 youth, $20 adults); family season pass increasing by only $10 (a family of four recoups the cost after about four visits); no increase for individual passes at Lake Creek and Crestbark pools.
• Baseball and softball field rentals would rise to $200 per day (a $140 increase), tournament fees would also increase, and light fees would go from $18 to $25 per hour, still below surrounding market rates.
• Pavilion rentals: community pavilions would increase from $25 to $100; the new Backyard Pavilion at Old Settlers would be $300 for four hours plus $50 per extra hour; the new Lakeview Pavilion would be $600 for four hours plus $100 per extra hour. No increases are proposed for neighborhood pavilions without restrooms or the RAB pavilion.
• Councilmember Flores asked about pavilion demand; staff said demand is high across all categories. Staff also explained that new subdivisions typically provide their own amenities and that the Rockin' River revenue subsidizes other pools.

Street Maintenance and Public Works Contracts (Agenda Items G2, G3, G4)

• G2: A resolution to award a residential street maintenance contract to Asphalt Inc.; Lone Star Paving was the low bidder at $4.4 million against a $4.5 million budget. A 2024 assessment graded about 90% of streets good or satisfactory, focusing work on the remaining 10% in Windy Park, Quicksilver, Stone Oak, and Chisholm Valley.
• G3: A $6.1 million contract (budgeted at $7.1 million) with Royal Vista Inc. for public works improvements in the Meadows subdivision, including stormwater inlets, water/wastewater line upgrades, and repaving. The project is expected to take about a year to a year and a half; a neighborhood meeting will be held.
• G4: Final closeout with J.D. Abrams for Kenney Fort 2 and 3 includes an $867,000 credit to the city in liquidated damages.

QT South / Annexation Package (Agenda Items G5-G8, H6-H8)

• Staff noted that agenda item numbering for this package was confused during the briefing. The items involve a QT convenience store property on Highway 79 and County Road 11, outside city limits.
• Staff proposed reimbursing QT South $172,000 for oversizing a wastewater line, amending an out-of-city wastewater agreement to add 8 living unit equivalents (LUEs) for a future car wash, and having the Round Rock Transportation Economic Development Corporation pay debt service on $30 million of certificates of obligation for roadways.
• In exchange for additional wastewater capacity, QT agreed to voluntarily annex an 8.5-acre tract near State Highway 130 and University Boulevard. The package includes a municipal services agreement, annexation of a portion of County Road 107 spur (released by Williamson County Commissioners Court), and original zoning C1A (commercial) recommended unanimously by the Planning and Zoning Commission on February 18.

Major PUD Amendments (Agenda Items H9 and H10)

• H9: Slate Round Rock PUD (10.85 acres) would add a medium-density multifamily option (up to 285 units) while retaining the existing high-density option (up to 375 units). Building heights would drop from four/five stories to three/four stories, with setbacks of 90 feet for three-story and 135 feet for four-story buildings. Balconies on south-facing facades are prohibited unless screened by an intervening building. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 4-1 on April 1, 2026, after neighbors objected to Juliet balconies.
• H10: Kenny Fort North PUD (110.54 acres, also known as the Harris/Stockwell Tract) proposes a trail-oriented design around Brushy Creek Regional Trail, relocating the trail, adding a Paseo with commercial frontage, preserving creek access, and allowing office/warehouse uses on northern parcels. It also adds a potential future public street connection to Double Creek Drive. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 5-0 on March 4, 2026.
• Mayor Pro Tem Stevens called H10 "one of the more exciting things" brought to Council, and Councilmember Ortega agreed it is the best use for the area.

Youth Recreation Standards of Care (Agenda Item H1)

• Staff presented the annual adoption of standards of care for the city's youth recreation programs, describing it as a routine requirement.

Debt Issuances (Agenda Items H2-H5)

• H2: Authorize $93 million in certificates of obligation (notice of intent was issued February 12).
• H3: Authorize $100 million in general obligation bonds continuing the 2023 voter-approved bond program.
• H4: Authorize $5.3 million in limited tax notes (seven-year term) for fleet maintenance.
• Combined new money transactions total $198.3 million. The city will seek competitive bids on Thursday morning, with a presentation by financial advisor Gary Kemble at the April 23 meeting.
• H5: A refunding opportunity for prior bonds will be considered if it generates at least a 2% net present value savings.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken; the briefing prepared the Council for action on April 23, 2026.
• Staff will present the following items for approval on April 23: fee schedule changes, construction contracts, the annexation package, PUD amendments, standards of care, and debt issuances.
• The Council will hold first readings or public hearings on several items, including the PUD amendments and the annexations.
• Staff will bring updated long-range financial plans after type B corporation debt service obligations are paid through 2029.